Yeongam County Launches 'NaeAnAe' Program to Prevent Depression Among Seniors

Early Detection and Treatment of High-Risk Groups
Through Welfare Center Outreach

Yeongam County Health Center staff conducted the 'NaeAnAe' program on the 21st at Haksan Welfare Center for the elderly to promote mental health and early detection of depression. Provided by Yeongam County

Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province is launching the 'NaeAnAe' outreach psychological support program to promote mental health and enable early detection of depression among the elderly.

The Yeongam County Health Center Mental Health Welfare Center announced on the 23rd that, starting with Haksan Welfare Center on the 21st, the 'NaeAnAe' program will be held over four weeks at welfare centers in Samho, Deokjin, and Dobo. The program name 'NaeAnAe' means 'I will embrace and love you.'

This program will be held once a week for a total of four sessions, targeting seniors aged 65 and over, from 10 a.m. for two hours, until August 22. Sessions will take place at Haksan Welfare Center on Mondays, Samho Welfare Center on Tuesdays, Deokjin Welfare Center on Wednesdays, and, starting August 1, at Dobo Welfare Center every Friday.

The program consists of five themes: a preliminary psychological survey using the 'TouchMind' app; 'Self-Love' to help with emotional expression; 'Thinking-Love' to teach stress management methods; 'Mind-Love' for sleep health activities; 'Health-Love' for daily pain management; and 'Happiness-Love' to deliver messages of respect for life.

In particular, the program aims to provide emotional support and help form healthy habits among the elderly, who are vulnerable to social isolation and mental health issues, in order to prevent suicide and improve quality of life.

Park Suhee, head of the Yeongam County Health Center, said, "I hope this program serves as an opportunity for psychological care for the elderly in our community to enjoy a happy later life," adding, "We will continue our efforts to promote a culture of respect for life and expand mental health support."

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