High risk candidates screened for psychological support upon calling 1577-0199; call service also offers treatment in cooperation with hospitals

◇ The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has decided extend its MERS psychological support services, previously limited to self-quarantined citizens and the general public, to medical personnel and previously self- quarantined citizens. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has decided to extend its psychological support policy by inquiry category to alleviate anxiety and stress due to the prolonged effects of MERS. 

According to an announcement made by the provincial government on June 24, Gyeonggi Province extended its MERS psychological support services to include medical personnel and previously self-quarantined citizens starting on June 17. The service was limited to self-quarantined citizens and the general public prior to the announcement. Additionally, the government will offer psychological support programs by classifying inquiries into detailed categories. 

A provincial government official noted, “Self-contained and previously self-quarantined citizens are angry and depressed due to isolation and prejudice from the local community, whereas medical personnel suffer greater levels of stress because of the high risk of infection associated with their occupations and prejudice from local residents.” The official explained, “We are at a point where psychological support is required not only for ordinary citizens concerned about this unpredictable disease but also for medical personnel and previously self-quarantined citizens who have been placed in strenuous situations.”

Accordingly, the provincial government will create mental health guidelines for each category subject in terms of psychological support programs and promote them via provincial SNS channels. The government will also send additional mail to previously self-quarantined citizens and medical personnel to help them evaluate their own circumstances. 

Those who believe they are in need of counselling per the guidelines should call the 24-hour MERS psychological counselling hotline operated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Mental Health Center at 1577-0199 or request counselling at mental health centers across the 31 cities and counties of Gyeonggi Province. 

For patients in need of psychological support based on telephone consultations, the provincial government will classify them as high risk subjects and offer psychological counselling, early symptom management, mental health center liaison services, mental health treatment, and healing program support. 

Apart from these programs, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government will develop and promote a mutual aid program focused on previously self-quarantined citizens to help them return to their normal daily lives and stabilize their mental and physical conditions. For medical personnel, the government will encourage their participation in psychological support programs based at hospitals with consent from the heads of each relevant organization.

Gyeonggi Province plans to create and publish its mental health guidelines, identify and manage high risk categories, and implement its psychological support programs.

With regards to the expansion of Gyeonggi Province’s psychological support services, Gyeonggi Province Social Integration Vice Governor Lee Ki-woo said, “We decided to create psychological support programs by category because each individual suffers from different circumstances and stress.” Vice Governor Lee added, “Gyeonggi Province will identify and implement the best possible psychological support solution, but the most powerful psychological support will come from the people of Gyeonggi Province themselves.”

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-kyoung jinkyoungkim@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201506241500127055C048&s_code=C048