Incheon Metropolitan City has launched a mental health support system for couples struggling with infertility and expectant mothers.
The city signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday between the Incheon Regional Infertility and Pregnant Women Psychological Counseling Center and the Incheon Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center. The agreement was established to detect mental health issues such as depression and anxiety that arise during infertility treatment, pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing at an early stage and connect individuals to professional counseling and treatment.
The two agencies will provide mental health counseling and treatment referral services for infertile couples, couples who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth, expectant mothers, new mothers and their spouses. They plan to establish a rapid cooperation system for high-risk individuals and operate mental health promotion education programs. The agencies also plan to strengthen community resource connections and information sharing.
In an era of declining birth rates, the psychological burden on infertile couples is increasingly emerging as a social issue. While repeated treatment failures and experiences of miscarriage or stillbirth often lead to depression and anxiety disorders, there have been consistent criticisms that systematic support has been insufficient.
"We expect professional and systematic support to be provided to those experiencing psychological difficulties during infertility treatment, pregnancy and childbirth," said Kim Kyung-sun, Director of the Women and Family Bureau of Incheon Metropolitan City. "We will do our best to eliminate blind spots in mental health by expanding cooperation with related organizations in the community."
