Health ministry strengthens mental health support for flood victims

The health ministry said it is strengthening psychological recovery support for residents affected by July's heavy rains through a new inter-agency cooperation system. The measures range from immediate on-site counseling to linking high-risk individuals with specialized trauma treatment.

The health and interior ministries activated a psychological support sub-team within the Disaster Recovery Support Headquarters to assist those temporarily evacuated or displaced by the floods. Officials will conduct visiting consultations to rapidly assess residents' mental states and connect those suffering from stress, depression, or sleep disorders with local mental health welfare centers and trauma centers.

Support will be intensified for displaced persons in Andong and Uiseong facing compounded trauma after losing temporary housing built following last year's wildfires. The ministries plan to deliver tailored assistance including senior center programs, telephone welfare checks, and mobile counseling units.

The interior ministry, which shifted to a recovery-focused command structure on July 24, will also launch community restoration programs to alleviate psychological distress among disaster survivors.

Lee Sun-young, the health ministry's director for mental health policy, pledged to ensure no gaps in case management for victims of the dual wildfires and heavy rains in the region.

Kim Joong-yeol, head of the disaster recovery bureau at the interior ministry, added that his department will work closely with health officials to stabilize victims' mental health and push forward reconstruction projects so residents can return to daily life as soon as possible.