[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Let's Stay Strong Together" Depression Overcoming 'Blue Band' Campaign

"We support everyone to have a healthy mind."

"You can overcome depression."

"When you are struggling, look around you. There will surely be help."

These are messages posted on the 'Blue Band' campaign encouraging people with depression. The Blue Band is a nationwide depression awareness campaign launched last year by the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association and the digital healthcare company Ybrain. It was created to correct social prejudices about depression and to foster an environment where people actively seek proper diagnosis and treatment from mental health specialists.

Blue Band logo

The Blue Band combines a bright sky blue color, rather than the blue symbolizing sadness, with a bandage to signify immediate response and active treatment of emotional wounds. Each year, a new theme related to depression is chosen; last year's theme focused on depression among people in their 20s. This year, young adult depression remains the core focus, encouraging the general public to empathize with and support acquaintances experiencing depression to overcome it together. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of patients treated for depression increased by 33.9% over four years, from 680,169 in 2017 to 910,785 in 2021. Notably, the number of young adults in their 20s and 30s rose from 23.4% to 34.1%, an increase of approximately 45.7%, showing the highest growth rate.

Participants of the Blue Band event held on April 22 are taking part in the Blue Walk.
[Photo by Blue Band]

On April 22, a Blue Band event for overcoming depression was held at Nodeul Island’s Nodeul Square. The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association and the Korean Mental Health Foundation designated April 4 as ‘Day of the Mind’ and held various events throughout April to raise awareness. The Blue Band zone operated by Ybrain included the Blue Neck Cut zone, Blue Nail zone, and Blue Walking zone. At the Blue Neck Cut zone, visitors took a simple depression scale test via mobile and enjoyed free photo sessions and printing with others present.

At the Blue Nail zone, visitors had nail art applied to their thumbs and pinky fingers and posed linking fingers with another person, symbolizing a promise. This conveyed the message that overcoming depression is a shared commitment with others and the Blue Band, not a solitary struggle. The Blue Walking zone encouraged walking, the simplest and most effective way to alleviate depression, and introduced the idea that when feeling down, instead of isolating oneself, going outside for a light walk helps break isolation and reconnect with the world. The Blue Band also held a depression recovery story contest.

On April 22, a child participating in the Blue Band event is linking their thumb and pinky finger in the Blue Nail Zone to symbolize overcoming depression together. [Photo by Blue Band]

Oh Kang-seop, director of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, said, "Early treatment of depression is crucial as the cure rate can reach about 80% within a few months if treated early. When patients suffer from depression, their mood drops and they often lose hope in life, so warm attention from those around them is a very important factor in overcoming depression."

Lee Ki-won, CEO of Ybrain, said, "As the domestic prescription rate of ‘Mindsteem,’ an electronic medicine for depression developed by Ybrain, is rapidly increasing, this year we are jointly running the Blue Band campaign with the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association to encourage early treatment of depression among young people for smooth social activities. We hope this campaign becomes an opportunity to express empathy to acquaintances going through difficult times with depression and to convey the message that they are not alone but together."

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