Gyeonggi-do Provides Customized Phone Counseling for Adolescents Admitted to Residential Treatment Centers

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will start customized phone counseling from the 15th for high-risk youth with mental health issues who have been admitted to residential treatment centers due to COVID-19.

This follows the participation of 'Gyeonggi Youth Hotline 1388,' which has specialized youth counselors, in phone counseling for residential treatment center residents conducted by the Gyeonggi Mental Health Welfare Center in May last year.

The phone counseling will be provided to youths identified as high-risk for mental health issues and in need of counseling based on the results of mental health self-assessments conducted after admission to COVID-19 residential treatment centers.

The main counseling focuses on checking psychological status and methods to relieve depression and stress.

If continuous counseling is needed after discharge from the residential treatment center, the province will connect them to one of the 31 youth counseling and welfare centers across the province.

Andonggwang, Director of the Lifelong Education Bureau of the province, said, "We hope that the 1388 Youth Hotline counseling will be of great help to youths struggling physically and mentally due to COVID-19 infection," and promised, "We will actively support psychological quarantine for youths having difficulties due to COVID-19 in the future."

The Youth Hotline 1388, operated and supported by the province, provides counseling on all areas of concern for youths, from everyday worries to crises such as school dropout, internet and smartphone overdependence, and running away from home. Professional counselors who hold national youth counseling qualifications or have practical experience in youth counseling and welfare conduct counseling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In crisis situations such as domestic violence where there is nowhere to go or urgent rescue is needed, immediate intervention and services are provided. If necessary, assistance can be obtained through connections with youth shelters or child protection agencies. The Youth Hotline 1388 is available not only to youths but also to guardians of youths who have concerns about their relationship with their children.

Any resident in the province who needs youth counseling can use the service by contacting ▲phone 1388 ▲internet www.cyber1388.kr ▲text 1388 ▲KakaoTalk channel 'YouthCounseling1388'.

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