This is what 17-year-old Charlie Bartlett has to offer. Listening to what his school mates need to take off their chests, with a handful of pills to help now and then. As depicted in the recent Hollywood movie Charlie Bartlett (2007), sometimes what students need most is simply someone to talk to. The students at SNU are no exception.

Last year SNU Mental Health Center reviewed its counseling and mental health services in the effort to increase accessibility for students.
More than 300 students visit SNU's mental health center every month, including students from abroad, said Doctor Myoung-Sun Roh, an associate professor and professional psychiatrist who has been working in the field for 8 years.
Our aim is to provide a safe and comfortable place to discuss any personal concerns or problems impacting them emotionally such as relationship problems, physical illness, or death of a family member or friend. We offer a range of counseling services designed to meet each student's need, as well as clinical services.

Various reasons lead students to visit the Center. However, Dr. Roh said that most of the students who visit the Center suffer from too much stress which easily leads to depression. For the foreign students, uneasiness adapting into a new environment, stress from cultural differences, and pressure from studying seem to be the main reasons for depression. Some students suffer from manic-depressive illness, a type of depression which causes one to experience excitement or mania, but then move on to a state of depression.

According to the poll conducted by SNU Mental Health Center in 2005, 1 out of 20 SNU students experienced a state of depression within a one-year time period, and only 12% of them received medical treatment for it.

Depression can lead to both physical and mental disorders if not properly treated. The poll also showed that the students who experienced depression are 4.4 times more likely to commit suicide compared to those who didn't experience depression.

To meet the growing need of the mental healthcare system, SNU Mental Health Center underwent comprehensive reform based on the results of the poll. Now SNU Mental Health Center provides full treatment services during the weekdays.

Depending on the circumstances, if we think that medication may be helpful in addition to counseling, then we provide an appropriate prescription. Usually students who take medication get much better within a month, said Dr. Roh. The confidentiality of every procedure and each student's information is the Center's top priority, of course, adds Dr. Roh.

SNU Mental Health Center is located in the Student Center (Bldg 63), on the 3rd floor. Its homepage offers an online self-diagnosis test, though only in Korean. Appointments can be made by telephone.

Opening hours: Mon.~Fri. 1:30pm~5:30pm
Tel.: 02-880-5347
Homepage: www.wellbeing4u.snu.ac.kr

November 18, 2008
Written by Ji-won Lee, SNU English Editor