Damyang-gun, Elderly Mental Health Promotion Project Receives Resident 'Positive Response'

5-Session Program for 15 Seniors from July to October

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Damyang-gun, Jeonnam announced on the 3rd that it has successfully completed the ‘Nae·An·愛 (I will embrace and love you)’ project, which was promoted for elderly people experiencing mental health difficulties.

From May to June, the county conducted a preliminary mental health survey targeting 110 people in 7 villages and selected 15 elderly individuals showing mild depressive symptoms. From July to October, a suicide prevention program for the elderly was operated.

After conducting a preliminary survey, the program was divided into five sessions under the theme of ‘Keeping one’s thoughts and mind healthy and happy’: ▲Self-love (expressing my emotions) ▲Thought-love (ways to manage stress) ▲Mind-love (activities that help with sleep) ▲Health-love (habits to reduce pain) ▲Happiness-love (ways to protect precious life).

After implementing the program combined with laughter gymnastics and stress relaxation therapy, a post-survey was conducted to reassess whether depressive feelings decreased among high-risk elderly individuals with high depression scores, and standardized customized suicide prevention services suitable for local characteristics were provided.

A county official said, “We will continue to contribute to the promotion of mental health for residents through various projects in cooperation with the local community.”

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