Please kindly review both the main text and the attached materials for the evidence. (See attachments above)
 

Chonnam National University offers a range of free mental health support programs aimed at enhancing students' well-being and helping them adapt to university life. The challenges of academic demands, interpersonal relationships, and career planning can place significant psychological burdens on students. To address these issues, the university has established a comprehensive and free mental health support system, centered around the Student Life Counseling Center, to help students effectively manage their mental health.

These programs include personalized counseling sessions, crisis prevention education, and mental health promotion activities, all designed to support students' emotional and psychological well-being. In particular, the university provides free counseling and programs to help students recover from the emotional challenges associated with the transition back to in-person learning and social interactions after the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that they can maintain a balance between their academic and social lives.

Additionally, Chonnam National University collaborates with local mental health organizations, offering enhanced counseling services with the help of external experts and ensuring quick responses to crisis situations. The university's efforts extend beyond individual counseling to include free preventive education and campaigns, empowering students to recognize and address potential mental health challenges on their own.

Overall, Chonnam National University's free mental health support programs play a vital role in helping students maintain both their physical and mental health, contributing to a successful and fulfilling university experience.

 1. Student Life Counseling Center

The Student Life Counseling Center plays a vital role in advancing the mental health of students and faculty members. Its establishment highlights the institution's commitment to the emotional and psychological well-being of the university community. The center's services are thoughtfully designed to address a broad spectrum of mental health needs, creating an environment where individuals can feel supported through personal challenges and academic pursuits.

Beyond offering crisis counseling for urgent issues such as suicide and substance abuse, as well as various psychological tests, the center provides personalized counseling sessions tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals. These sessions offer a confidential and supportive space for individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions. Recognizing the importance of family to the overall well-being of faculty members, the center also provides counseling and psychological testing for their children, showcasing a comprehensive approach. This ensures that faculty members can perform their best, knowing their families have access to professional mental health support.

The Student Life Counseling Center serves as a beacon of support and guidance, reflecting the university's dedication to fostering a caring and inclusive environment. With its wide range of services, the center plays a pivotal role in ensuring the holistic growth of students and faculty, facilitating smooth adaptation to school life, and preparing them for social advancement. This underscores the institution's understanding that academic success is intrinsically linked to mental and emotional health.

※ Evidence:
  - Student Life Counseling Center: https://counsel.jnu.ac.kr/counsel/index.do
  - [Attachment] 3.3.5_1-1 Chonnam National University Student Life Counseling Center Operating Regulations
  - [Attachment] 3.3.5_1-2 Photos of the Student Life Counseling Center


2. Mental Health Enhancement Group Counseling

Chonnam National University has operated the "Mental Health Enhancement Group Counseling" program. It was established to support students who are experiencing difficulties in emotional exchange, face-to-face academic performance, and adapting to college life due to the easing of COVID-19 and the return to daily routines. For this purpose, three main programs were sequentially launched:

- Mind Blossoming: Named by combining the meanings of 'to make a bud bloom' and 'to escape from a state of feeling mentally or emotionally constricted,' this group counseling focuses on the meaning and recovery of students' mental health.

- Happy Blossoming! Empathy Blooms (Peer): A peer counseling program aimed at listening to and assisting with the concerns of fellow students, thereby enhancing their capacity to adapt to college life and prevent crises.

- Vitality Blossoming! Body-Mind-Breath-Rest: A mental care program designed to help students understand the relationship between body and mind, and effectively take care of their own physical and emotional well-being.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] Mental Health Enhancement Group Counseling


3.  Mental Health Guardian Guidebook

Chonnam National University published a Mental Health Guardian Guidebook with the purpose of enhancing the adaptation of students to university life and promoting their mental health. This guidebook serves as a resource for faculty and staff to provide students with relevant support services based on the difficulties identified during interactions such as interviews. These difficulties are categorized by type, and the guidebook aims to offer effective and efficient support solutions tailored to specific problem situations that students may face.

The content of the Mental Health Guardian Guidebook includes:

Mental Health Issues:Types of problems covered include risks of suicide, addiction, and mental health issues like early psychosis (schizophrenia), depression, anxiety, and stress.
The guidebook lists relevant organizations that provide support for these issues, such as Suicide Prevention Hotline, Korea Life Phone, and Gwangju Buk-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, offering services like suicide crisis intervention and self-assessment and intervention services for various mental health conditions.

Addiction Problems:Covers addiction issues including alcoholism, smartphone addiction, gaming addiction, gambling addiction, and drug addiction.
Integrated prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation management for addiction is provided by organizations like Gwangju Buk-gu Addiction Management Integrated Support Center and Gwangju-Jeonnam Gambling Problem Prevention Healing Center.

Isolation and Substance Abuse:The guidebook provides information on counseling and support for issues related to drug and substance misuse, as well as problems stemming from excessive smartphone use.
Organizations such as the Korea Narcotics-Free Association (Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch) and Gwangju Smart Rest Center offer counseling and in-home consultation services.

Social Isolation (Hikikomori):For individuals who remain isolated in confined spaces like their homes and avoid social activities, counseling and step-by-step healing programs are offered.
The Gwangju Metropolitan City Hikikomori Support Center and Gwangju Youth Dream Bank provide these services, including financial support, credit recovery, and financial management counseling for young people facing financial difficulties and debt.

The guidebook is a comprehensive effort by Chonnam National University to connect students with local institutions that can offer the necessary support, thereby facilitating their successful adaptation to university life and enhancing their mental health. This initiative reflects the university's commitment to the well-being of its students, offering a roadmap to support and recovery for those facing various challenges during their academic journey.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_3 Mental Health Guardian Guidebook


4. counseling support program with professional counselors

Chonnam National University's Student Life Counseling Center has implemented a counseling support program with professional counselors. This program is based on selecting and operating guest counselors who possess professional counseling qualifications under the purpose of "Supporting College Students' Mental Health". According to Article 5-2 (Guest Counselors) of the regulations of the Student Life Counseling Center, the program aims to address the various psychological difficulties faced by students, assist in problem-solving, and promote mental health improvement (such as reducing depression and anxiety) to enhance the quality of college life and support holistic growth.

The operation method is as follows:

- 1:1 Psychological Counseling: Guest counselors provide one-on-one psychological counseling to students experiencing difficulties with mental health or adapting to college life.

- Assignment of Counselors and Students: Each guest counselor is assigned 3-4 students (cases), with each student receiving one-on-one psychological counseling once a week for an hour.

This counseling support program plays a crucial role in effectively solving the psychological issues that students may encounter during their school life and maintaining and enhancing their mental health. Furthermore, it supports students' adaptation to college life and holistic development, helping them achieve better outcomes in their academic and social lives.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_4 counseling support program with professional counselors


5. collaboration with local mental health-related organizations

Chonnam National University has established a network through collaboration with local mental health-related organizations, aiming to expand the influence and accessibility of each institution by signing agreements with local mental health stakeholders.

Through cooperation with these affiliated organizations, resources, expertise, and experiences are shared among institutions, leveraging each other's strengths to manage the mental health of our university students.

List of Affiliated Institutions:

- Gwangju Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center
- Gwangju Buk-gu Mental Health Welfare Center
- MindLink (Youth Mental Health Center)
- Gwangju Buk-gu Addiction Management Integrated Support Center
- Gwangju Smart Rest Center
- Gwangju-Jeonnam Korea Gambling Problem Prevention Healing Center
- Korea Association Against Drug Abuse
- Hikikomori Support Center
- Gwangju Youth Dream Bank
- Gwangju Youth Center

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_5 collaboration with local mental health-related organizations


6. Chonnam National University Mental Health Survey



 

Chonnam National University conducted a mental health survey to assess the mental well-being of students and use the findings to improve the operation of psychological counseling programs and the services of the Student Life Counseling Center. The survey aimed to diagnose students' psychological and emotional difficulties and serve as a foundation for the effective operation of future counseling programs, enhancing their overall efficiency.

Key Outcomes:

• Mental Health Assessment: Accurately identified students' emotional difficulties and stress levels.
• Customized Program Development: Provided the basis for developing necessary psychological counseling programs and preventive education.
• Counseling Center Service Improvement: Improved accessibility to counseling services by understanding student perceptions.
• Identification of Psychological Support Needs: Clarified the demand for psychological counseling, establishing a foundation for tailored support.

This survey played a crucial role in preventing mental health issues and providing enhanced support programs. Overall, it contributed to improving students' mental and emotional health, focusing on strengthening the psychological support necessary for university life.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_6 Chonnam National University Mental Health Survey


7. Healing Camp

 
Chonnam National University operates a comprehensive 2-day intensive group counseling healing camp aimed at promoting the mental health and well-being of students, particularly focusing on their adaptation to university life and fostering self-growth. This program offers students a unique opportunity to engage in a deeply immersive experience designed to address their emotional and psychological needs.

Led by experienced counseling professionals, the program includes a variety of activities that encourage self-reflection, helping participants to explore their inner thoughts and emotions. Students are also guided through exercises aimed at enhancing self-understanding and improving their ability to understand and empathize with others. A key component of the camp is emotional expression training, which provides students with the tools to articulate their feelings in a healthy and constructive manner.In addition to these developmental goals, the program is designed to support participants in healing past traumas and emotional wounds. Through this healing process, students are able to confront and work through difficult experiences, helping them to move forward with greater emotional resilience. This intensive counseling camp is an integral part of the university's efforts to support students in their personal growth and overall mental health, providing a safe and supportive environment for both self-exploration and recovery.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_7 Healing Camp
 

8. Mental Health Promotion Peer Counseling Program


Chonnam National University operates a Mental Health Promotion Group Counseling Program to support students struggling with emotional exchanges, face-to-face academic activities, and adapting to university life following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the return to normalcy. This program is designed to alleviate students' psychological burdens and help them recover their mental health.

'Maeum-Tium' is a counseling program aimed at opening students' hearts and promoting psychological healing. The peer counseling program, 'Happy-Tium! Peer Blooming Empathy,' strengthens students' ability to listen to and support each other's concerns, helping them adapt to university life.

Additionally, 'Jindam-Tium! Expressing Honest Emotions' focuses on improving self-expression and communication skills, while 'Vitality-Tium! Body-Mind-Breath-Rest' helps students understand the connection between body and mind and promotes healthy self-care.

These programs are part of Chonnam National University's comprehensive support system, designed to enhance students' mental and emotional well-being and help them adapt more effectively to university life.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_8 Mental Health Promotion Peer Counseling Program

9. Mental Health Prevention Week Program

Chonnam National University organized a series of prevention education sessions and campaigns aimed at promoting students' mental health and preventing crisis situations. This program focused on key issues such as gambling addiction, drug abuse, suicide, alcohol addiction, and smartphone/internet overdependence, providing students with the tools to recognize risks and learn appropriate coping strategies.

The Gambling Addiction Prevention Education covered an understanding of gambling addiction, its harmful effects, and methods for seeking help, while the Drug Abuse Prevention Education emphasized the dangers of drugs and the harmful effects of various types of narcotics. The Suicide Prevention Education was part of the “Life Keeper” program, teaching students how to recognize and respond to suicide risks through the "See, Listen, and Speak" method.

Additionally, the Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign distributed informational materials on the dangers of narcotics and drug abuse. The Smartphone and Internet Overdependence Prevention Campaign provided overdependence scale tests, self-assessment tools, and OX quizzes to help students identify and understand their levels of dependency. The Alcohol Addiction Prevention Campaign included self-assessments on drinking habits and OX quizzes on alcohol and drug-related issues to raise awareness among students.

The Gambling Addiction Prevention Campaign offered screening tests to detect gambling-related issues, while the Suicide Prevention Campaign promoted the "Love Life" campaign, offering OX quizzes on suicide prevention and depression screening tests to allow students to assess their own mental health.

This comprehensive program provided students with valuable opportunities to recognize and prevent various mental health issues, contributing to their overall well-being and resilience.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_9 Mental Health Prevention Week Program


10. Dormitory Mental Health Program

Chonnam National University has implemented various mental health programs to enhance the mental well-being of dormitory residents and strengthen their sense of community.

First, the Bandi Festival is a program designed to foster camaraderie among dormitory residents and create opportunities for cultural exchange. This event included campaigns focused on mental health, addiction prevention, and smoking cessation, in collaboration with Gwangju Buk-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, Gwangju Buk-gu Addiction Management Integrated Support Center, and Gwangju Buk-gu Public Health Center. Through this campaign, students were given the chance to recognize the importance of mental health and learn preventive measures for issues such as addiction.

Additionally, the Eoulim Festival was organized to promote the physical health of residents in Yeosu dormitory and encourage interaction with international students. This event was specifically designed to help students overcome mental stress caused by COVID-19 (Corona Blue, Corona Red) through active physical and group activities. It aimed to improve both the physical and mental capacities of students while fostering a strong sense of community.

These two programs played a crucial role in improving the mental well-being of dormitory residents, enhancing their satisfaction with dormitory life, and promoting communication and unity among students from diverse cultural backgrounds.



※ Evidence: [Attachment] 3.3.5_10 Dormitory Mental Health Program