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In the early stages of the corona outbreak, 'corona blue', meant anxiety and depression due to the risk of infection and social distancing, became 'corona red' expressing anger, and now it has reached 'corona black', where even hope cannot be found. In fact, one in five people is already in the Corona Blue situation, and can fall into Corona Black at any time. What role can and should the church role in these times?
Rosa, a woman in her fifties, said last October, she wanted to let go of everything. She was living the exact opposite of what she had dreamed of —her continuing feud with her husband, and ill health of her children. Normally, she would have overcome depression and endured the difficulties in her parish life, but even that was not easy due to Corona. It was difficult for her to find someone to talk to, or freely go somewhere. She did receive spiritual counseling, and is now living happily in search of the Lord's will even in the midst of difficult times.
As the COVID-19 situation continues for over two years, more and more people are complaining of helplessness. People complained of depression and frustration from the anxiety they might be infected. Continuing daily restrictions and broken human relationships have led to the expression of this emotion in anger, and in such a situation, people are showing dismay, not finding the possibility of recovery.
According to the December results of the "Corona 19 National Mental Health Survey" released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last month, 1 in 5 Koreans was at risk of depression, and more than 1 in 10 were thinking of suicide. According to the results of the survey conducted by the Korea Trauma Stress Society on 2,063 adults aged 19 to 71, the rate in the depression risk group was 18.9% and the rate of those who had suicidal thoughts was 13.6%. The national mental health is not improving.
Loss of control, not being able to do something at will, has a significant impact on people's feeling of helplessness. Humans are beings with free will, and when in control of their lives they better find the meaning of life and gain generative power. However, the situation does not get better and shows no sign of improvement.
In a research report of the "Corona 19 National Mental Health Survey" in the second half of 2020 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, people were under the greatest stress when "planned things did not go as planned" among various situations. This is higher than the stress caused by 'economic difficulties due to reduced income and household debt' and 'confusion caused by inaccurate information or 'fake news'.
A professor pointed out in an academic paper titled "Consideration on Corona and
Happiness in Daily Life," that not only quarantined people but also
ordinary citizens are experiencing depression and lethargy as they face
major changes in their daily lives. He explained: "The experience of
temporary deprivation of free movement and physical freedom due to
quarantine can be a factor that makes it embarrassing and difficult for
individuals to control themselves."
Another professor in a nursing school emphasized that 'intentional ruminations' are helpful when daily stress occurs. To think deeply about the meaning and purpose of life and deliberately recalling the trauma experience helps understand the event. People can positively change their lifestyle that affects happiness.
To this end, it is the role of the church to help people overcome feelings of helplessness, show them some light, the meaning of life, faith and being with them as companions. This is because Christians are people who seek hope in despair, discover God's will in adversity, and develop faith in God, themselves, and neighbors as a community.
In one of the dioceses a parish priest has been running a parish spiritual counseling center since February of last year. Any one can get help with healing. "The church should show its
shepherd's devotion, not to manage believers, but a time to look for those who have gone over the fence and lost their way. The church needs with sincere mercy find the lost and wandering sheep.
