Jeonnam-Gwangju to run mental health promotion week from Oct 10 to 24
In short
Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City said it will mark Oct 10-24 as a mental health promotion week, tied to Mental Health Day on Oct 10, with cultural events and campaigns. A ceremony is set for 2 p.m. on Oct 16 at the city's Gwangju office, alongside exhibitions, concerts, lectures and walking campaigns across the region, Yonhap reported. The city hosts the programme, with the Gwangju-Jeonnam regional mental health welfare centre co-organising and 27 basic mental health welfare centres and seven addiction management centres taking part.
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Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City said on Oct 4 that it will designate Oct 10-24 as a mental health promotion week and hold cultural events and campaigns during the period, to coincide with Mental Health Day on Oct 10, Yonhap reported. Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun also reported the same Oct 10-24 dates. The outlets used differing names for the city, with Kukmin Ilbo writing “Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City” and Seoul Shinmun writing “Jeonnam-Gwangju City”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap said this year's programme carries the theme “Let's face it, mental health starts with facing it”, and is intended to build a social atmosphere in which citizens look after their own mental health in daily life. The integrated city is the host, the Gwangju-Jeonnam regional mental health welfare centre co-organises, and 27 basic mental health welfare centres and seven integrated addiction management support centres take part, according to the report. [ 3 ]
A ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct 16 in the conference room of the city's Gwangju office, Yonhap reported. The first part includes a city mayor's commendation for people recognised for their work on mental health and suicide prevention, followed by a congratulatory performance by the popera group Chinchin Classic. In the second part, Park Jae-yeon, director of the Replus Human Research Institute, will give a special lecture titled “The freedom that arrives when I face my emotions”, the report said. [ 3 ]
Programmes promoting the city's mental health services by life stage, along with information on alcohol and other addictive diseases, will be run in front of the venue, according to Yonhap. [ 3 ]
Yonhap listed further events across the region: an exhibition of works by people with mental illness at the CM Art Hall in Dong-gu from Oct 8 to 15, and a “psychology × concert” combining psychology and art on Oct 14 at the Bitgoeul Citizens Culture Centre in Nam-gu. A talk concert in Gwangsan-gu, a music talk concert in Yeosu, an open lecture in Suncheon, an addiction-escape project in Dong-gu and a walking campaign in Naju, Gurye, Haenam, Yeongam and Wando were also scheduled. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The week is a municipal public health campaign, so its direct consequences are local: it publicises mental health and addiction services and puts the issue on the city's calendar. Yonhap's detailed programme and the participating network of 27 basic centres and seven addiction management centres indicate a service network being promoted rather than a new policy or funding measure.
Key facts
- Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City designated Oct 10-24 as a mental health promotion week, Yonhap reported, citing the city. [ 3 ]
- The Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun also reported the Oct 10-24 period. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The week is tied to Mental Health Day on Oct 10. [ 3 ]
- The city hosts the programme and the Gwangju-Jeonnam regional mental health welfare centre co-organises it, with co-operation from 27 basic mental health welfare centres and seven integrated addiction management support centres. [ 3 ]
- A ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct 16 in the conference room of the city's Gwangju office. [ 3 ]
- Regional events listed by Yonhap include a talk concert in Gwangsan-gu, a music talk concert in Yeosu, an open lecture in Suncheon, an addiction-escape project in Dong-gu and a walking campaign in Naju, Gurye, Haenam, Yeongam and Wando. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A mental health promotion week will run from Oct 10 to 24 in Jeonnam-Gwangju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The week is connected to Mental Health Day on Oct 10. [ 3 ]
- The integrated city is the host, the Gwangju-Jeonnam regional mental health welfare centre co-organises, and 27 basic mental health welfare centres and seven integrated addiction management support centres participate. [ 3 ]
- An official ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct 16 at the Gwangju office of the integrated city. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which city name is the correct one. Kukmin Ilbo writes “Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City”, Seoul Shinmun writes “Jeonnam-Gwangju City” and Yonhap writes “Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City”; the documents do not explain the difference.
- Any details of the coverage by Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun beyond the headline line. Both documents carry only the outlet's feed summary, with no article text available.
- Whether the programme carries a specific budget, target participation numbers or new funding for mental health services. None of the documents state a budget, participant target or new funding.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes its report on Jeonnam-Gwangju's mental health week on Oct 4. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports the Oct 10-24 mental health week on Oct 4. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on Oct 4, citing the city's announcement. [ 3 ]
- Ceremony on Oct 16 at the Gwangju office of the integrated city, with a city mayor's commendation for people who worked on mental health and suicide prevention, a performance by the popera group Chinchin Classic and a lecture by Park Jae-yeon, director of the Replus Human Research Institute. [ 3 ]