보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Launch of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee

Driving Major Revamp of Mental Health Policy

- Enhancing mental health by providing professional psychological counseling

to one million people during the government's term -

On Wednesday, June 26, at 10 AM, the government convened the inaugural meeting of the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Innovation Committee") at the National Center for Mental Health.

Following the announcement of the establishment of the Innovation Committee at the Mental Health Policy Vision Declaration Conference on December 5, presided over by the President, the government has since prepared for its launch by formulating the statutory basis and determining the committee’s composition. The Innovation Committee is to serve as a forum for foster societal dialogue and comprehensively innovating mental health policies,

The Innovation Committee comprises private-sector chairman Shin Young-chul (currently a professor of psychiatry at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital), government memeber (the Minister of Health and Welfare), individuals with mental illnesses, families of suicide victims, field practitioners, and 21 relevant experts as civil members. Former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has been appointed as a special advisor. The Innovation Committee’s mandate includes gathering cross-sectoral opinions on mental health policy innovation, providing consultations and policy/institutional recommendations, and developing a roadmap for implementing innovations through issue coordination.

At the first meeting of the Innovation Committee, the following items were discussed: ① Detailed implementation plans for mental health policy innovation, ② Operational plans for the Mental Health Policy Innovation Committee, and ③ Campaign plans to improve mental health awareness.

Chairman Shin Young-chul expressed his aspirations, stating, "Just as we lay bricks one by one, I hope we can build a robust foundation for mental health in our society. Looking ahead 10 to 20 years, we plan to work actively with all committee members to establish a strong foundation within the government's term." ///