Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 14, 2020

System effectiveness of detection, brief intervention and refer to treatment for the people with post-traumatic emotional distress by MERS: a case report of community-based proactive intervention in South Korea

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  • During the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea, the province of Gyeonggi was fully quarantined. Among 6,157 citizens surveyed, 19.6% demonstrated emotional difficulties (e.g., depression), 71.3% received one counseling service, and 28.7% sought ongoing counseling services. Of those requiring ongoing counseling, only about 10% were contacted by the national service providers, suggesting that despite increased need, traditional hospital systems and medical facilities were not equipped to respond. The authors called for improved psychological care referral programs and preparedness, recommendations with international relevance. 

Yoon et al. (2016). System effectiveness of detection, brief intervention and refer to treatment for the people with post-traumatic emotional distress by MERS: a case report of community-based proactive intervention in South Korea. Int J Ment Health Syst, 10(51).