Hwaseong City Operates Mental Health Task Force for AI Culling Participants

Hwaseong City Health Center has been operating a mental health support task force to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among residents of affected farms and workers who participated in preventive culling and quarantine operations since avian influenza (AI) first occurred in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do on the 16th of last month and subsequently spread to poultry farming operations within Hwaseong City.

The city health center noted that concerns have been raised about the mental health status of those affected by PTSD, anxiety disorders, or acute stress disorders resulting from memories, fear, and despair related to the culling process.

Accordingly, a mental health support task force consisting of seven personnel from the mental health promotion center—including psychiatrists and mental health specialists—was formed starting from the 3rd, and has distributed mental health service information and conducted post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screening tests on 195 people.

Additionally, residents and participants identified as high-risk for PTSD are being provided services including psychiatric specialist consultations, expert counseling and case management, and treatment referrals through the mental health promotion center.

For PTSD prevention and response, the city operates a mental health counseling office (available at Hwaseong City Hall and the mental health promotion center during regular hours), conducts detailed PTSD examinations, offers psychiatric specialist consultation support (available every Tuesday by prior appointment), provides psychiatric treatment fee assistance, sends text message reminders about PTSD medical services, and operates free mental health counseling (1577-0199) on a 24-hour basis.

Director Han Sang-nyeong of the health center stated, "We are supporting mental health services including psychological and psychiatric examinations, counseling, and case management for AI-affected farms to minimize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," adding, "In this disaster situation, providing appropriate responses to various psychological and psychiatric symptoms and helping people receive timely treatment will be beneficial."

For additional inquiries, contact the Hwaseong City Health Center's Rehabilitation Health Division or the Hwaseong Mental Health Promotion Center.