Gangnam-gu, Family Care for Severe Mental Illness Patients

Gangnam-gu to Hold Family Education with Mental Health Specialist on the 24th

Strawberry Farm Experience, Family Photo Shoot to Support Recovery of Patients and Families

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seongmyeong) is operating a ‘Family Burnout Prevention Program’ to support families caring for patients with severe mental illnesses, and will hold family education with a psychiatrist on the 24th.

Mental health patients discharged from medical institutions ultimately return to their families for care, making family support and cooperation crucial for patient rehabilitation.

Accordingly, the need for comprehensive support including not only patients but also families experiencing depression and stress has increased.

The Gangnam-gu Mental Health Welfare Center is expanding family-centered support projects in earnest this year to relieve emotional burnout of patient families and assist rehabilitation of patients with severe mental illnesses.

Strawberry Farm Experience

As the first program in April, a ‘Strawberry Farm Experience’ was held at the Seoul Agricultural Technology Center, with about 50 registered patients and their families participating. Family members gathered to listen to explanations about eco-friendly strawberry cultivation, directly harvest strawberries, and make jam, which helped strengthen bonds.

On the 24th of this month, Director Jeong Jaehoon of Seoul St. Mary’s Mental Health Clinic will be invited to conduct family education at the center. The education aims to resolve questions that severe patients and their families usually have and to help understanding of mental illnesses.

In June, a family photo shoot for patients and families will be held, and in the second half of this year, rehabilitation education by mental rehabilitation specialists is planned.

Jo Seongmyeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “Through this support, we hope to reduce the burden on families caring for patients with severe mental illnesses and strengthen efforts for patient rehabilitation,” adding, “We will continue to carefully consider and support not only patients but also the difficulties faced by caregiving families.”

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