Stress is something that we all must live with. Though we claim to know much about this subject, we might be oblivious to the extent of detrimental effects it can have on our physical health. Stress can affect your mood by making you feel anxious, restless, irritated, unmotivated, and depressed. Stress alone can be the root of many health problems that range from headaches, chest pains, fatigue, sleep problems, upset stomach to even depression and chronic heart diseases.

However, these symptoms are often neglected and left uncured because they are not as obvious as factors that affect our physical health and also because the stigma about mental illness is too strong in Korea. So people struggle to solve their problems and fail to come up with solutions, leading to chronic stress.

As KAIST students, we are exposed to a great deal of stress due to the heavy load of studying and the separation from home and from family who usually help you in times of need. When it comes to dealing with stress, KAIST students are on their own, and it is often difficult to find many people around us when we need help.

The series of suicides of KAIST students in 2011 and 2012 bear witness to the fact that there are some of us who are indeed suffering from stress and depression. In order to prevent such tragedies and help students enjoy the school life, KAIST’s Counseling Center and Stress Clinic accomodate various programs that can give professional help to students.

KAIST Counseling Center
Located on the third floor of Tae Wul Gwan (N13), Counseling Center is open to any students, faculties and their families, and alumni of KAIST. It is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The counseling center holds evening counseling sessions from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. everyday, but if you need help outside the working hours, you can call extension 7942 and talk to one of the counselors at any time.

If you are either hoping to understand more about yourself, experiencing hardships with problems that is beyond your ability, or going through depression, anxiety, or any other psychological problems, the Counseling Center is the perfect place to go.

The center helps students who are facing difficulties in their relationships, mental health, and choosing their careers, so that they can have a more enjoyable school life. The programs offered at the counseling center include both individual and group counseling sessions. The group counseling sessions deal with various topics such as relationships, self-improvement, emotion control, and internet addiction to help students share their ideas on a common topic and to better understand themselves and others.

The Counseling Center also provides professional help to students who have experienced any form of sexual harassment. For students who are unsure about their career or aptitude, various types of psychological examinations, such as MBTI, STRONG, MMPI, and any other tests related to self-realization, relationships, and personality are offered.

Being aware of the environment at KAIST, the center also offers programs that are not necessarily psychological but more practical. For example, the Lab Workshop aims to promote a healthy working environment for graduate students working in labs through group counseling. The center also provides a one-to-one mentoring program between a graduate student and undergraduate student so that the former can give some realistic advice on study, career, time management and relationships to the latter.

Occasionally, Counseling Center holds depression tests and Internet addiction tests in the school cafeteria and provides services to students who are in need of professional help. Every year, the counseling center also invites experts to hold three to four sessions on special topics such as relationships, sex, depression, and addiction problems, and accommodates education on counseling techniques, dealing with stress, and prevention of suicides.

The counseling center frequently posts notices on the KAIST Portal on upcoming program or any special group sessions. If you want to get some counseling, you can contact them by either one of the three ways: by applying online at the homepage, by calling them on the phone, or by visiting the center. Then, the faculties at the center will help you pick an appropriate time for the counseling session.

Stress Clinic
If all the programs at the Counseling Center do not work for you, you can always visit the Stress Clinic, located in the KAIST Clinic Pappalardo Center. While the Counseling Center mostly gives psychotherapy sessions, the Stress Clinic offers more medical help for symptoms such as mood disorders, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders, and provides both counseling and medical treatment. The clinic covers all disorders related to mental health. It is open on Monday, Wednesday morning, Thursday, and Friday afternoon, but reservation is necessary before visiting as these session takes a long time.