"Departing"... Yeongdeungpo-gu Operates Visiting 'Mind Relief Bus'

Responding to the Spread of Depression and Stress... Providing Life Cycle Services for a Life Full of Hope and Happiness
One-Stop Service from Stress Measurement Using Medical Devices to Expert Consultation
Comprehensive Post-Care... New Program for High-Risk Mental Health Groups

Mental Comfort Bus for Office Workers

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will operate a Mind Relief Bus to soothe the hearts of its residents.

The "Visiting Psychological Support Mind Relief Bus" project is a mental health management program that proactively responds to the continuous increase in mental health issues such as depression and stress by providing stress measurement and counseling to residents and workers within the district.

What is particularly noteworthy is that, considering the social atmosphere where people hesitate to visit hospitals, the program uses a mobile bus to directly approach residents and provide services.

This project measures stress levels using professional medical equipment (Omnifit), identifies depression and suicide risk groups through self-questionnaire scales, and offers mental health services and expert counseling for high-risk groups.

Last year, the district specified target groups including ▲daycare centers, ▲elementary, middle, and high schools as well as out-of-school youth, ▲workers, and ▲elderly and vulnerable groups, operating the Mind Relief Bus according to life cycles. During a total of 76 operations, 1,427 residents and workers used the service, showing an average satisfaction rate of 96%.

According to test results from 1,386 participants who responded to professional scales (CES-D-10, SBQ-R, etc.), ▲238 people (17%) were identified as depression risk group, ▲98 people (7%) as high-risk group for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and ▲9 people (1%) as high-risk group for alcohol abuse, totaling about 345 people (25%) classified as mental health risk groups.

In response, the district plans to strengthen the Mind Relief Bus project to provide early intervention for residents' mental health risks and help alleviate depression and stress.

During the bus operation period, high-risk mental health groups will be selected, and with their consent, psychological therapy programs such as art therapy will be conducted inside the bus every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with experts, providing follow-up care services.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, "This project is a one-stop service that identifies mental health risks early and takes responsibility for follow-up care for high-risk groups," adding, "We will lead efforts to discover various mental health programs that can soothe the hearts of residents and create a social atmosphere full of hope and happiness."

Mental Health Relief Bus for Vulnerable Groups

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