Jemulpo-gu District (Mayor Kim Chan-jin) in Incheon held a two-day relay campaign on Sept. 15 and 16 in which 1,050 residents took part, marking World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10). The campaign was aimed at introducing the newly relocated Jemulpo-gu Mental Health Welfare Center to residents while raising community awareness of respect for life and mental health.
 [The Korean Today] Jemulpo-gu District’s relay campaign marking Suicide Prevention Day and Mental Health Day © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The campaign moved between locations chosen for their heavy foot traffic. On Sept. 15, it was held at the North Plaza of Dongincheon Station and the Incheon Fish Market, and on Sept. 16, at the plaza in front of Incheon Station and the plaza at Wolmi Theme Park. The district selected high-traffic sites such as stations, markets and tourist attractions in order to reach a broad range of residents, including those who rarely have the opportunity to encounter mental health services.
At the venues, a quiz program introduced the various programs run by the mental health welfare center, and a food truck handed out hwachae, a Korean fruit punch, encouraging residents to stop by and participate without pressure. The campaign was notable for taking an experiential approach rather than conventional promotion, lowering the psychological barrier surrounding the subject of mental health.
World Suicide Prevention Day was established to raise awareness of the value of life and the seriousness of suicide and to draw public attention to the issue, while World Mental Health Day was created to highlight the importance of mental health and dispel social prejudice against mental illness. The district planned the campaign in relay format to make use of the period between the two observances.
“It was a meaningful occasion to introduce the newly relocated Jemulpo-gu Mental Health Welfare Center to local residents and to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention,” said Kim Chan-jin, mayor of Jemulpo-gu District. “We will continue to work to promote the mental health of our residents.”
The Jemulpo-gu Mental Health Welfare Center provides counseling on residents’ mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress and suicidal thoughts. Inquiries about counseling and services can be made at 032-765-3690~1.
Because people with mental health problems often find it difficult to seek help on their own, simply informing the community about what counseling services are available is itself a starting point for prevention. The campaign, which took to the streets on the occasion of the center’s relocation, was significant in that it made residents aware of a resource they can turn to when in need.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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