In addition to new social crises the Korean society is currently facing, issues are emerging in individuals, groups, and communal society due to the rapidly changing socio-cultural environment. Thus, to confront these issues, this study seeks to propo ...
In addition to new social crises the Korean society is currently facing, issues are emerging in individuals, groups, and communal society due to the rapidly changing socio-cultural environment. Thus, to confront these issues, this study seeks to propose solutions from an integrated perspective based on interdisciplinary convergent research in order to establish a community environment for promoting mental health.
The objectives of the research under the subject of “Mental Health and Communal Society” at the macroscopic stage and the detailed objectives that there search center pursued are as follows.
Research Objective1. Leading the environmental paradigm of promoting mental health for a happy life
-Implementation of environmental mechanisms of health welfare service and presentation of response strategies
-Implementation of communal society networking and presentation of sustainable strategies for promoting mental health
Research Objective2. Establishment of a master plan for an environment of healing and support for promoting mental health
-Presentation of an environmental spectrum linked to mental health and the implementation of the plans for application
-Proposal of a consolidated plan for a healing environment for mental health recovery and support
Research Objective 3. Presentation of an environmental model for mental health support through advanced technology, convergence, and intervention
-Establishment of a database (DB) of environments for promoting mental health using information and communication technology (ICT)
-Presentation of mental health support rhizome service model based on information and communication technology (ICT)
For two years at the macroscopic stage, the research center has established an integrated research system based on related fields of study (social science, social welfare, psychology, philosophy, health science, psychiatry, information science, architecture, urban science, etc.) to pursue the above-described research objectives, and in doing so endeavored to conduct, apply, and promote empirical research for promoting mental health. The following list presents major achievements and results of research conducted along with programs of mutual sympathy by members of society, such as policy proposals, publication of specialized books, presentation of research papers, hosting symposiums and seminars, and programs for applying and disseminating research results.
Changes in services and responses thereto following the revision of the Mental Health Welfare Act; exploration of measures to support health welfare services in residential and neighborhood environments to improve quality of life; proposals for community-based mental health promotion service mechanisms by life cycle; review of the validity of indicators for measuring social capital considering the characteristics of local communities; establishing a community network foundation for promoting mental health; exploration of ways to establish sustainable community networks for promoting mental health; conducting epidemiological surveys of community social and physical environmental factors affecting mental health; analysis of various environmental spectrums inconsideration of local characteristics; deriving environmental factors related to mental health; preparing guidelines (proposals) for healing environments applicable to various environmental spectrums; establishing community-based mental health-related facilities and service maps; analysis of environmental information and relevant service programs for promoting mental health; establishing a database (DB) system of mental health-promoting spatial characteristics to utilize information and communication technology; and constructing the foundation for establishing a sustainable mental health rhizome platform ecosystem, etc.
The Research Center for Mental Health and Communal Society conducted an interdisciplinary convergent research in order to derive integrated solutions for issues in the social and physical community environment and to create a healthy environment and communal society. Major results of the research conducted at the macroscopic stage and corresponding plans for utilization areas follows.
1) Leading the environmental and institutional paradigm surrounding mental health
-Propose response strategies according to there vision of the Mental Health Welfare Act
-Respond to the paradigm shift of environments for promoting mental health
-Propose supportive roles for the community
- Present plans to build a service spectrum for integrated care for local communities
2) Proposal of consolidated plans to improve mental health through analysis of local environmental factors
-Investigate and analyze regenerative environments in local communities taking into consideration the conceptual application of healing environments
-Establish a database (DB) of community-based medical and welfare service environments and support institutions
-Integrate mental health-related indicators and verify their validity
-Analyze community systems for the healing and rehabilitation of health-vulnerable groups
3) Establishment of a framework for empirical research to build a mental health support environment centered on community members
-Share information on mental health-related institutions and services in Korea
-Establish a physical environment-related legal system based on analysis of social activities regarding accessibility to major public facilities in local cities, and present maintenance standards
-Implement a pilot project for effective and simple use of mental health services
-Present characteristics and factors of relationships between the community environment and each resident in terms of mental health
4) Consolidated building of basis-oriented environmental factors and models
-Establish a sustainable basis through an integrated process
-Build a basis-oriented healing environment and optimize database
-Attempt community consolidation projects oriented toward the structural characteristics and members of the community
-Follow a therapeutic approach and plan the community collective housing environment
Based on the research system and results, related research will continue in the future to promote mental health of individuals, groups, and communal society through an integrated approach between social and physical environments, upon which continuous efforts will be made to create a healthy communal society and residential environment.