A series of lectures to inform the public about mental health issues will take place in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.

The lectures, which are free and open to all, will be given by Park Han-son, a neuropsychiatrist at St. Andrew’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital. They will take place in the hospital’s main auditorium at 2 p.m. on the third or fourth Sunday of each month.

“Mental health problems are one of the main public health issues in Korea,” said Park. “However, the stigma about mental illness has been too strong. It is very difficult to get accurate information about mental illness and the appropriate way to seek professional help.

“This kind of lecture for families is the first time something like this has ever been attempted. It would be very helpful for people suffering from mental disorders and their family.”

The next lecture in the series, titled “Public Mental Health Education for Family of Psychiatric Patients,” will take place on Feb. 24 and will look at how patients should select the right hospital and doctor. Other subjects to be discussed over the course of the year include alcohol and gambling addiction, eating disorders, psychotherapy, suicide, dementia and divorce.

The lectures will be given in Korean but will be followed by a question and answer session in English.

For more information and the full schedule of lectures, call (031) 639-3824.

(john.power@heraldcorp.com)