Foreign residents struggle to cope after Itaewon tragedy

Mourners are seen at Itaewon Station, Nov. 3. / Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon

By Ellie Goodwin

The Itaewon tragedy left 156 people dead, an infamous figure now commonly known across Korea with countrywide vigils being held for all to pay their respects. The forgotten figure belongs to those presently dealing with psychological trauma.

Coping with waves of flashbacks will be a new reality for many.

"I saw a street lined with dead bodies. Civilians were giving CPR but it was too late at that point. I can't sleep. I remember that street and those bodies, and I remember the screams," a Canadian eyewitness told The Korea Times.

Feelings of guilt, anger and trauma will be a close companion for many in these weeks to come, with many struggling to process and find closure.

Seemingly innocent environments that had once posed no challenge may now act as triggers.

"I can't cope with small spaces at the moment. I feel like I can't breathe and start to panic straight away. My mind just takes me back to that straitjacketed, powerless feeling I had when I was there," recalled Eleanor Baumber from the U.K. who was one of the thousands in the crowd.

Humans are conditioned to have short memories, and compassion only stretches so far, so the unspoken external pressure to "move on" will start to loom over many. At this time, therapy will be a desired option for many but in a country that stigmatizes mental health issues and where services are hard to access, this presents another difficulty for those already struggling to cope.

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"I've been trying to find therapists. The information is not easily accessible. It's stuff you have to go looking for or ask around about ― it's not at your fingertips. I don't live in Seoul so that just makes it harder, and I'm already struggling," said an American eyewitness surnamed Paige.

As if high suicide rates and excessive alcohol consumption were not evidence enough, the pleas for emotional support also highlight how undervalued mental wellbeing is in Korea.

"Mental health problems don't exist here. It's taboo. If you have mental health problems then you're ridiculed or made to feel ashamed," Paige added.

It is this ingrained prejudice that is responsible for the feeble addressing of the desperately needed investment in mental health services.

Of the few services that are available, external pressures to reject their assistance are to be expected. Government policy has meant that disclosing mental health issues hinders future job prospects for the individual.

"If I see a therapist or take medication then it'll show up on my record and that'll make it difficult for me when I try to find a new job. It's putting me off seeking help because I know it'll create problems for me later down the line," said an American expat who wished to be identified only by the initials N.S.

It is not just future careers that many are taking into consideration but present ones too. Few employment contracts offer paid sick leave, and those that do, offer an obscenely small number of days. "I have two sick days, which doubles up as personal leave. I'm expected to deal with this and be ready for work again in two days," N.S. said.

"Should the individual need an extended period of time, then it will be at their own cost, be it financially or at the risk of losing their job. My employer told me to come in. I had already used up my personal leave and was told I couldn't take any more. When I tried to explain what I had seen and what I'm currently trying to deal with I got the same response ― come in to work," a South African woman told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.

The lack of available services and information about them is one example of the widespread negligence that has been thrown into the spotlight this past week, showing the painstakingly obvious need for dismantling stigma through education and giving higher priority to financial investment.

There are some mental health services being made available for foreign residents in the wake of the Itaewon disaster.

Adaptable Human Solutions (AHS), a psychological counseling service in Seoul, will host a free support group on Wednesdays for those who have been directly impacted by the tragedy in Itaewon.

The Korean Psychological Association has also announced it will offer a psychological consultation service for people who experienced or witnessed the disaster, directly or indirectly. It will pair up people who apply with volunteer professional psychologists.

Also, Danuri Portal, which offers translation services for the multicultural community in 13 languages, can help people who call its Helpline (1577-1366) by helping connect them with mental health services, booking appointments and offering interpretation services during consultations.

Ellie Goodwin is a teacher who has taught in schools across China, and is currently teaching in Gwangju. She also writes for Gwangju News.