Gwangju City Operates COVID-19 Psychological Support Team and Psychological Support Units in 5 Autonomous Districts

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 25th that it is operating the ‘COVID-19 Psychological Support Team’ and ‘Psychological Support Teams in 5 Autonomous Districts.’

The Psychological Support Team and support groups were formed to provide professional counseling and psychological support as cases of citizens suffering from psychological symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, suspicion, and lethargy due to stress from exposure to infection risks have increased amid the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

In particular, when consultation with a mental health specialist is needed before treatment linkage, more professional psychological support services are provided by utilizing the Mind Health Primary Care Physician system, a specialized project promoted by Gwangju City.

Since the Psychological Support Team started on the 18th, as of the 24th, there have been 542 cases of psychological counseling via phone and face-to-face, and 558 cases of information provision using text messages and leaflets, becoming a great support for citizens seeking to heal their weary minds.

The COVID-19 Psychological Support Team, consisting of mental health experts, provides active psychological counseling 24 hours a day, and citizens experiencing difficulties in daily life due to anxiety, depression, and stress caused by COVID-19 can use the COVID-19 Psychological Support Hotline anytime.

Gwangju City’s COVID-19 Psychological Support Team explained that fear or terror of infection, anger over the prolonged situation, and stress from restrictions on outdoor activities are very normal emotions occurring in an infection crisis situation, and these can be overcome by maintaining a regular lifestyle and positive activities.

However, if these negative emotions persist and remain unresolved, they may progress to depression, so it is recommended to seek help from psychological quarantine experts.

Lee Pyeong-hyeong, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau, said, “Anyone can feel stress about infectious diseases, but it is important to take care of your mental health and maintain a positive mindset, especially at times like this,” and added, “Citizens experiencing difficulties in daily life due to anxiety, depression, and stress caused by COVID-19 should not hesitate to use the COVID-19 Psychological Support Hotline.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.