Early Intervention Model for Mental Health in Korean Youth: Mindlink

Abstract

Early detection and intervention are necessary to prevent deterioration and promote recovery in patients with schizophrenia. Mindlink is the first community-based early intervention center for young people with mental illness in Korea. This service was introduced in 2012 as a national mental health pilot project in Bukgu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Due to the increase in the number of young clients, a youth-friendly, early intervention center called Mindlink was established in 2016. Mindlink is a comprehensive mental health service provided throughout multidisciplinary collaboration. It provides intensive case management and group programs, including cognitive behavioural therapy, family intervention, psychoeducation, motivational enhancement, and physical health promotion. The Korean government has stated that the Mindlink model is effective and is currently expanding the model to other areas in Korea. An increasing number of young people with distressing mental illnesses and their family members are approaching Mindlink for help. They are seeking early psychiatric intervention despite the stigma associated with mental illnesses. Our experience with the Mindlink model suggests that investing in improving the mental health in youth and in service delivery can overcome the stigma associated with mental illnesses and other barriers to mental health services. There is currently a lack of comprehensive mental health services for youth, which is a major problem. An accessible, youth-friendly, stigma-free, community mental health center, such as Mindlink, allows early detection and management of mental illnesses in young patients. Therefore, developing early intervention centers at the national level is urgently required.