"Healing Trauma Together"... 'Trauma Healing Week' from 17th to 28th

First In-Person Event Held Since COVID-19 Pandemic

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that, in collaboration with the National Center for Mental Health, the National Trauma Center, and the Korean Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, it will hold the "2023 Trauma Healing Week" from the 17th to the 28th.

Trauma Healing Week Poster. [Photo by National Center for Mental Health]

This Trauma Healing Week aims to support the mental health recovery of citizens exhausted by prolonged COVID-19 and disasters such as the Itaewon tragedy, and to raise awareness about trauma under the slogan "Working Together toward Recovery."

Notably, all events will be held in person for the first time since COVID-19. The National Trauma Center has prepared various programs including ▲ Mind Relief Bus experience ▲ Workshop on utilizing disaster reporting guidelines to prevent secondary harm ▲ Healing talk with the MZ generation alongside mental health specialists ▲ Joint academic conference with the Korean Society of Traumatic Stress Studies.

From the 17th to the 19th, a workshop on the trauma treatment method "Prolonged Exposure Therapy" will be conducted for disaster psychological support workers. On the 24th, a commendation ceremony for trauma meritorious service and an academic symposium by the National Trauma Center will be held, focusing on psychological support activities related to the Itaewon incident. The symposium will review psychological support efforts for the Itaewon tragedy and discuss intervention strategies for high-risk groups in disaster mental health with academic and field experts.

Additionally, on the 26th, a healing talk with the MZ generation and mental health professionals will take place. It will be broadcast live online as well as available for on-site participation.

Gwak Suk-young, Director of Mental Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "We hope that this Trauma Healing Week will serve as an opportunity to comfort the hearts of citizens struggling due to prolonged COVID-19 and consecutive disasters such as the Itaewon incident," adding, "We will continue to make efforts to ensure sufficient psychological support is provided during large-scale disasters by strengthening disaster psychological support capabilities."

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