Gokseong Mental Health Welfare Center Signs Business Agreement with 'Neighborhood Clinic Maumeumium'

Published 20 Jul.2023 14:02(KST)

Jeong Seok-jin Clinic, Ryu Internal Medicine Clinic, Ok Gwa Hyundai Clinic, Woori Internal Medicine, Gokseong Orthopedic Clinic, etc.

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Sang-cheol) announced on the 20th that the Mental Health Welfare Center has newly signed a business agreement for the Neighborhood Clinic Mind Connection project with five primary medical institutions in the region.

The neighborhood clinics that signed the agreement this time are Jeong Seok-jin Clinic, Ryu Internal Medicine Clinic, Okgwa Hyundai Clinic, Woorideul Internal Medicine Clinic, and Gokseong Orthopedic Clinic.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

The 'Neighborhood Clinic Mind Connection' project aims to detect mental health issues early in patients visiting medical institutions. Through this, patients can receive treatment at the appropriate time by linking psychiatry departments with the Mental Health Welfare Center.

Currently, a total of 10 medical institutions are promoting the 'Neighborhood Clinic Mind Connection' project in cooperation with the Gokseong-gun Mental Health Welfare Center.

According to the 'Mental Health Survey' conducted in March 2022, the depression risk group decreased from 22.8% in March 2021 to 18.5%. However, this is still a high figure compared to 3.2% in 2019 before COVID-19.

Additionally, the suicidal ideation rate decreased from 16.3% in March 2021 to 11.5%, but it remains much higher than 4.6% in 2019 before COVID-19.

This phenomenon indicates that most people do not recognize their problems or avoid proper treatment due to stigma against mental illness.

A county official stated, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, social activities and interpersonal relationships have been reduced, highlighting mental health issues such as anxiety and depression among residents."

"We are pleased that through this agreement, residents can more smoothly receive support from mental health professionals. Going forward, Gokseong-gun plans to establish a systematic system to identify high-risk groups and ensure they receive appropriate medical services,” he said.