Gwangjin-gu hosts a mental health lecture on Oct. 29 at the district office auditorium, focusing on understanding adolescent mental health and improving parent-child communication. Up to 300 residents may register on a first-come, first-served basis by phone or QR code.
Gwangjin-gu will hold a mental health lecture Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the district office auditorium to mark Mental Health Day, observed on Oct. 10.
Mental health has become as vital to quality of life as physical health in modern society. Adolescent mental well-being in particular is closely tied not only to healthy development but also to parent-child relationships and family communication, making attentive support from both the home and the broader community essential.
The event is designed to help residents reflect on their own and their family's mental health, build a sound understanding of adolescent mental health, and improve communication with their growing children. Participants will explore practical ways to tune in to their children's emotional state and foster empathy and trust within the family.
The lecture, titled "A Time When the Mind Grows: What Parents Need to Know," will be delivered by Kim Bung-nyeon, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Seoul National University Children's Hospital.
Kim is a child and adolescent mental health specialist who has authored books including "Your Child's Friendships" and "Your Child's Brain," and has appeared on a range of television programs — including Yu Quiz on the Block, Rooftop Troublemakers and Parent Class — to help audiences better understand child development and mental well-being.
Registration is open to Gwangjin-gu residents on a first-come, first-served basis, with 300 spots available. Residents may sign up by phone or by scanning a QR code, and anyone with an interest in mental health is welcome to apply.
For registration and further details, contact the Gwangjin-gu Mental Health Welfare Center.
"Listening to our children and making an effort to understand their inner world is the first step toward caring for a family's mental health," Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said. "I hope this lecture helps parents and children understand each other better and communicate with warmth."
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