Gyeonggi Province Launches Psychological Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Infectious Disease

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 9th that it has activated the Gyeonggi Province Disaster Psychological Support Team to enable systematic disease spread response measures by maintaining the psychological stability of residents in relation to COVID-19.

The Gyeonggi Province Disaster Psychological Support Team is composed of 700 members, including 70 mental health professionals from the province and municipal/county mental health and welfare centers and 630 center staff members. The team provides counseling services to residents in the event of a disaster in the province.

Any Gyeonggi Province resident experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression related to COVID-19 can receive psychological counseling. Psychological support can be obtained through the municipal/county mental health and welfare centers via a 24-hour hotline (1577-0199) or in-person counseling.
Through psychological counseling, the province plans to provide continuous case management services and support for psychiatric treatment fees for high-risk groups.

Additionally, the province plans to distribute 'Mind Care Guidelines' to mental health and welfare centers and screening clinics in municipal/county areas to address the psychological anxiety and fear of residents during the COVID-19 crisis.

The 'Infectious Disease Stress Mind Care Guide' provides coping strategies such as ▲focusing on trustworthy information ▲seeking help from mental health professionals if in distress, and ▲taking care of one's body and mind, along with mental health coping strategies for those in isolation.

Additionally, the 'Gyeonggi Province Psychological Immunity Guide' introduces psychological responses to infectious disease, symptoms requiring professional help, methods for psychological immunity, and contact information for organizations that can provide assistance.

The province has also independently developed and provides a free positive program 'Gyeonggi Province Psychological Immunity Online Program 『SPRING』 (www.g-mind.or.kr) for the psychological recovery of those who have experienced disasters.

A province official said, "If you experience post-traumatic stress symptoms such as loss of appetite, insomnia, and auditory hallucinations during self-isolation, please immediately request counseling from your local health center or mental health and welfare center," and added that "the National Trauma Center (02-2204-0001) provides dedicated psychological support for confirmed cases of infection and their families." The official continued, "In general, when infectious disease spreads, cases of anxiety and stress arise," and urged residents to "not panic and actively use Gyeonggi Province's disaster psychological support service hotline (1577-0199)."