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KYCC, Mental Health Advocacy Services to offer counseling clinic

April 29, 2014

During a press conference Monday, Sam Joo, director of Children and Family Services at KYCC, right, and the organizers of the event said the clinic would be a free service offered in English, Korean and Spanish.

By the Korea Times Los Angeles staff

For Korean students suffering from bullying in school, depression or thoughts of suicide, a new counseling clinic will soon be available.

The clinic, which will be put on through a partnership between the Korean Youth & Community Center and Mental Health Advocacy Services in Los Angeles, will be held during a special seminar for parents and students on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During a press conference Monday at the KYCC, organizers of the event said the clinic would be a free service offered in English, Korean and Spanish.

The event will be divided into two sections — a workshop, where parents will learn about education laws and students’ rights, and the clinic — and will offer one-on-one consultations with attorneys for parents who need it most.

Attorneys will help refer parents to special programs to deal with their particular issues.

Francis Ryu, an attorney with MHAS, said research indicates a higher percentage of suicide in Korean teenagers due to the pressure of doing well in school.

He said the seminar would be a chance to inform parents of the best ways to receive education services and to solve problems.

In a lot of cases, students who have problems in school don’t get the specialized help they need, said James Preis, MHAS executive director. He said he hopes the seminar will become a platform through which parents and students can solve issues together.

Call (323) 931-5270 to make an appointment or for more information. KYCC Community Room, 1230 S. Menlo Ave.