Through the program, the police officers can build up their inner strength coping with their job more effectively while attaining self-expression capabilities, sense of accomplishment, and positive attitude in their line of work. (image: Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture)
SEOUL, July 18 (Korea Bizwire) – A music therapy program will be offered to police officers to avoid their work-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture will launch the music therapy project titled “Happy Together” targeting policemen in 13 police stations in Seoul until the end of August. The “Happy Together” project is an outreach service provided by Seongbuk Art & Creation Center, an affiliated organization under the foundation, offering on-site musical therapy.
Eom Bo-mi, a music therapist at the center, said, “Our program aims to help participating police officers manage their stress and negative sentiments from their work by themselves. Through the program, the police officers can build up their inner strength coping with their job more effectively while attaining self-expression capabilities, sense of accomplishment, and positive attitude in their line of work.”
Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted by a graduate student of Seoul National University in 2010 on the relationship between traumatic accidents that police officers are dealing with and their effects on PTSD, approximately 40 percent of the police officers showed PTSD symptoms at least partially. The survey urged continuous education and training for the police officers to prevent PTSD.
A police officer currently participating in the “Happy Together” program said, “As a police officer, I am often exposed to stressful situations as I meet various people. Through the program, I’d like to learn how to deal with such situations and gain calmness in my mind.”
Cho Sun-hee, CEO of the foundation, said, “As we experienced from the recent ferry accident, we need a strategy to deal with stress and psychological trauma at a societal level.”
“Our foundation will continuously try to solve problems that our society is exposed to through the therapy programs. The music therapy will be expanded to the general public within this year,” she added.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
