보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Launch of Korean-World Bank Collaboration Project

to Improve Mental Health Awareness

- Sharing case studies of mental health stigma reduction programs in different countries

and discussing their applicability in domestic context -

- Participation of 70 mental health experts from home and abroad -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's National Center for Mental Health (President Kwak Young-sook), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the World Bank, will host the "Workshop on Reducing Stigma in Mental Health" on Wednesday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at The Westin Josun Seoul.

This workshop will bring together mental health experts from around the world to share current attitudes toward mental illness, case studies of programs aimed at reducing mental health stigma in different countries, and explore their applicability in domestic context.

In Session 1: Opening Session, Graham Thornicroft, Professor at King's College London, will deliver a keynote presentation on the stigma of mental health and its impact. Additionally, Yang Su-Jin, Director at the National Center for Mental Health, will provide an overview of the current status of mental health in the Republic of Korea.

In Session 2: International Experiences, Professor Claire Henderson from King's College London will present key findings from a global evidence review, and Dr. Chris Groot from the University of Melbourne will discuss reducing stigma in the East Asia region.

Following these presentations, mental health experts from home and abroad will share case studies of mental health stigma reduction programs from their respective countries.

In the final Session 3, all participating mental health experts will engage in discussions on strategies for reducing mental health stigma in Korea.

Chang Eui Soon, Director of the Development Finance Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said, “To overcome the dishonor of having the highest suicide rate among OECD countries, it is essential to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness so that those in need can receive timely help.”

Alberto Rodriguez, Regional Director for Human Development in the East Asia and the Pacific Region at the World Bank, stated, “Investment in mental health sector is essential for accumulating and effectively utilizing human capital. Without appropriate psychiatric treatment, academic achievement declines, unemployment risks increase, and productivity is likely to drop. To address and cope with mental health issues, we need to identify various problems and share diverse approaches and best practices.”

Lee Hyoung Hoon, Director General of the Bureau of Mental Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, remarked, “Last December, the Korean government declared a transformation in mental health policy under President's leadership and is preparing detailed action plans. We will faithfully incorporate the valuable suggestions discussed at today's workshop into Korea's mental health policies.”

Kwak Young-sook, President of the National Center for Mental Health, noted, “For sustainable improvement in the perception of mental illness in Korea, it is crucial to pool the wisdom of mental health experts worldwide and translate these discussions into action. To this end, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with the World Bank.” ///