"Don't Hide Your Pain": Jeonnam Gwangju Holds Mental Health Awareness Week

Commemorative Ceremony and Special Lecture at Gwangju City Hall on the 16th
Exhibitions, Performances, and Walking Campaigns to Follow

Across various locations in Jeonnam Gwangju, there will be opportunities for people to look within and seek help, rather than hiding or suppressing their struggles when going through difficult times.

Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City announced that it will hold 'Mental Health Awareness Week' from October 10 to 24, in celebration of Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is 'Face It: Mental Health Begins When We Face Ourselves.'

'Mental Health Awareness Week' Web Poster. Provided by Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City

The main event will be held on the 16th at 2:00 p.m. in the large conference room of the Gwangju City Hall. The program includes recognition of contributors in the fields of mental health and suicide prevention, followed by a performance from popera group Chinchin Classic. Jae-yeon Park, Director of the Replus Human Research Institute, will give a lecture on the topic 'The Freedom That Comes When We Face Our Emotions.'

Outside the venue, there will be information booths introducing mental health support programs for different life stages, as well as information on addiction disorders such as alcoholism. Hands-on programs that allow citizen participation will also be available, and anyone is welcome to join free of charge.

Region-specific events are also scheduled. From the 8th to the 15th, the exhibition '12:32—The Time We Face Each Other', featuring works created by people with mental illness, will be held at the CM Art Hall in Dong-gu. On the 14th, the 'Psychology x Music Concert', which combines psychology and music, will take place at the Bitgoeul Citizens Culture Center in Nam-gu.

Other events include a talk concert in Gwangsan-gu, a music talk concert in Yeosu, and a public lecture in Suncheon. In Dong-gu, there will be an addiction recovery project, while Shinan will host a sand art performance. Walking campaigns will take place in Naju, Gurye, Haenam, Yeongam, and Wando.

This event is hosted by Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City and jointly organized by the Gwangju and Jeonnam Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Centers. In addition, 27 local mental health welfare centers and 7 integrated addiction management support centers will participate.

For information on how to register, as well as the event schedule, please visit the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City mental health cultural event website or call for details.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.