[Itaewon Disaster] Psychological Support for Survivors and Bereaved Families... Managing Nationwide Trauma, Why?

Ministry of Health Forms 'Integrated Psychological Support Team' for Over 1,000 Injured and Witnesses
Excessive Viewing of On-Site Footage by General Public Negatively Affects Mental Health

On the 30th, ahead of Halloween, flowers were placed in the Itaewon area of Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the victims of the large-scale crush disaster that occurred in the Itaewon district. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Health and Welfare will provide psychological support to 1,000 people, including bereaved families and the injured, in relation to the Itaewon disaster. Experts are concerned that this incident will leave significant trauma not only for the families of the victims but also for the entire nation.

The Ministry plans to first provide maximum support for the funeral processes of the deceased and make every effort to ensure that severely injured patients receive timely treatment. At the same time, psychological treatment will be provided to bereaved families and injured individuals who need psychological support due to this incident. To this end, a 100-member "Itaewon Incident Integrated Psychological Support Team" will be formed, centered around the National Trauma Center, including specialists, mental health professionals, administrative staff, and mental health welfare centers in Seoul and Yongsan.

Experts advise that bereaved families may be overwhelmed by resentment, anger, and guilt, while survivors may experience trauma responses such as anxiety, fear, panic, depression, helplessness, and anger. They recommend seeking immediate professional help if daily life becomes difficult.

The Korean Society of Trauma Stress issued a statement saying, "Trauma is a natural response that anyone who has experienced a disaster can have," and emphasized, "It is important to accept that the sudden accident and death are neither the fault of the deceased nor of oneself." The society also advised, "Share your pain with family, relatives, and friends who truly understand," and urged those around the victims to "protect survivors and bereaved families from hatred and blame."

The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association also stated, "A great shock is expected among the bereaved families and acquaintances of those who died in this disaster, the injured and their families, witnesses, and emergency responders," diagnosing that "large-scale mental health support is necessary."

The association called on the general public to refrain from spreading on-site videos and hateful expressions related to the Itaewon disaster. It emphasized, "Spreading unfiltered videos and photos from the scene damages the honor of the deceased and victims and can lead to secondary and tertiary harm," urging everyone to exercise civic responsibility to prevent further dissemination. It particularly recommended refraining from excessively watching on-site videos or news repeatedly, as such behavior can negatively affect one’s own health.

Since hateful expressions online exacerbate trauma and hinder the recovery of victims and bereaved families, restraint was also urged. The association stated, "Spreading unverified information can damage the honor of the deceased and victims," and warned, "Hatred and stigma cause social conflict and do not help resolve disaster situations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.