Eunpyeong-gu Tackles 'Corona Blue' with Psychological Quarantine Measures

Extreme Stress Experienced by Eunpyeong-gu Employee R: A Psychological Counseling Experience... Online Psychological Counseling Service Corner for Residents Also Planned

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mr. R, who was ordered to work in the COVID-19 task force, was assigned to the COVID-19 telephone counseling center on weekends. After receiving harsh language from a resident during a consultation, Mr. R recently experienced significant mental fatigue in his work. The healing time provided to Mr. R was the psychological support service for employees prepared by the district office. While talking with a professional counselor, he regained psychological stability.

Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has been conducting necessary tests for burnout, stress, and depression among employees exhausted from COVID-19 related work from the 7th to the 29th, and is providing one-on-one face-to-face counseling with psychological counseling experts.

Since February, Mr. R has been suffering from COVID Blue (COVID depression) due to the increase in various tasks caused by COVID-19. Mr. R, who could not eat lunch properly due to headaches and indigestion, showed symptoms of anxiety and being easily startled, unlike before. He also felt lethargic and fell into apathy.

In a comfortably prepared temporary psychological counseling room within the district office, Mr. R measured his accumulated stress level using a pulse wave device. The test result recorded the highest stress index. He was surprised himself. Then, he received stress counseling from a psychological counselor and advice on how to practice mind control. Mr. R’s steps were noticeably lighter as he left the temporary psychological counseling room.

Psychological quarantine for the public is also showing cracks. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), as of the 2nd, 1,794 people are under investigation for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including quarantine violations. 957 have been prosecuted, and 746 are under investigation. The number of people complaining about COVID-19 stress in daily trivial matters is increasing, such as neighbors in apartment complexes fighting over mask-wearing or disputes between restaurant owners and customers over business closing hours.

In response, Eunpyeong-gu plans to provide psychological support counseling online for residents. Previously, counseling was conducted by receiving applications at the Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center’s psychological counseling center ‘Dadokim,’ but face-to-face counseling was temporarily suspended due to the spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area. Currently, efforts are underway to establish an individual counseling website to provide online counseling services.

Dadokim was established to resolve the psychological difficulties of district residents and offers counseling, psychological testing, and various mind healing programs free of charge. Over the past six years, it has positioned itself as a public psychological support center in the northwestern region under the slogan “Happy Eunpyeong that heals the mind.”

Dadokim plans to conduct psychological counseling later through email or the counseling website bulletin board and is creating an environment where simple psychological tests for smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety, etc., can be conducted immediately.

Additionally, Eunpyeong-gu is also taking care of the psychological stability of those in self-quarantine. To help them maintain a healthy daily life, psychological stability supplies are being provided. For self-quarantined individuals who are experiencing stress, mental anxiety, and depression due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, items such as a mind care guidebook, stress balls, bean sprout growing kits, and stretching bands are being distributed.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and self-quarantined individuals has greatly increased, we have prepared support measures such as psychological counseling for employees who are doing their best on the front lines. We understand well that residents are also under great psychological burden as social distancing level 2.5 continues. We will strive even more for psychological quarantine for residents in the future.”

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