9/28 Topic - Mental Health Problem `Not Shameful'

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

안녕하세요... 오늘 첫 참석한 지미입니다... 혹시나 까먹을까해서 후다닥 올립니다...ㅎ 

오랜만에 영어로 대화도하고 밥도먹고, 뜻 깊은시간 보내고 온것같아 기분좋네요~

주제가 조금 시리어스해서 재미는 별로 없지만 자신의 정신건강을 한번쯤 뒤돌아보는 시간이 되었으면 좋겠네요.

그럼 다들 또 한주 퐈링하시고 월요병 조심하세요~~ㅎ

 

Mental Health Problem `Not Shameful'

 

Koreans need to talk more openly about mental health issues and seeking counseling is the best way to manage their anger before it builds up to a boiling point, a Korean-American psychologist and counselor said. 

Josephine Kim, lecturer in the risk and prevention program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, stressed the importance of raising awareness about recognizing emotional distress and seeking mental health services in order to ``save lives.''  

She was invited to come to Virginia Tech last year to give counseling to ethnic Koreans there after the mass shooting by Korean-American Cho Seung-hui, who killed 32 and himself on the campus. She found that many Koreans were not seeking help for mental health problems even though they needed it.  

``According to recent research, Koreans are famous for not seeking mental health services and wait till the very last minute, till they can no longer endure the mental ailment or symptoms, and it means when they finally come and seek help, it's almost too late,'' Kim told The Korea Times Tuesday during her visit to Seoul.  

``We tell them, `It's okay to seek help when you need it.' Education is very important to talk about why it's helpful to seek help on mental and emotional issues and what the negative consequences are for not seeking help,'' the licensed mental health counselor said.  

Kim said the traditional Confucian culture, which considers emotional problems a sign of weakness, have made Koreans feel ashamed for experiencing mental health difficulties. ``It is difficult to change that mindset, but research also says when you increase knowledge, attitude also changes,'' the 33-year-old said.  

She said such lack of knowledge and understanding may be a part of the reasons for growth of violent crime targeting random people or public property, such as the Virginia Tech mass shooting and the arson on Namdaemun.  

``If you don't know how to manage your anger and stress, how to resolve conflict, then these things build up. And once it's build up, it's very difficult to repress any longer, and it explodes in an uncontrollable manner. So, we need to be more proactive about emotional stability. We have to train and educate people on how to resolve stress, minimize conflict, improve communication skills, and increase social skills,'' she said.  

After the counseling at Virginia Tech, Kim is committed to helping Korean-Americans and Koreans in multicultural environments.  

``Korean people focus too much on academic, intellectual achievement, and other parts of who we are get neglected, such as social, moral and emotional aspects. For example, Cho was doing fine academically because he was student of Virginia Tech and performed well at that level. But socially and emotionally he was really lost and totally isolated. The importance is that there are many aspects of who we are and all of those aspects need our attention,'' Kim said.  

A non-profit organization Mustard Seed Generation, which Kim co-founded, will hold a conference in Seoul in July, for students of Korean heritage attending international schools or foreign language high schools here, or incoming college freshmen and high school students seeking to attend colleges in the U.S. The participants will learn about things beyond academic success ― social, spiritual, cultural and emotional aspects ― especially in college life.  

``The conference will increase knowledge and awareness of the issues and talk about what it means to be Korean and multicultural in the globalized world,'' she said.

 

<< Question >>

1. Do you agree or disagree with the Josephine Kim's point of view?

    Please, tell us specific reasons or examples to support your opinion. 

 

2. Why do the Korean think that mental health problem is shameful? 

 

3. What do you think of the main reason of the rising mental illness in Korea ? 

 

4. What kind of activity is good for mental health? 

 

 

<< ---------- ★ Bonus ★---------- >>

 

★ How to Help a Depressed Loved One 

 - Acknowledge that depression is an illness 

 - Realize that isolation is often a symptom of depression. 

 - Don't distance yourself from a depressed loved one 

 - Recognize your own limitations and feelings 

 - Don't be afraid to ask if they are suicidal. 

 - If your loved one admits they are suicidal, keep asking questions 

  

★ A Depression Self-Assessment 

Could you be depressed? Take this self-assessment 

1. Have you felt depressed, hopeless, helpless, worthless or guilty most of the day, every day, for at least 2 weeks? 

   Yes □ No □   

2. Do you no longer feel pleasure in or enjoy doing anything?  

   Yes □ No □   

3. Have you lost (or gained) in both appetite and sleep?  

   Yes □ No □  

4. Are you fatigued and unable to concentrate?  

   Yes □ No □  

5. Do you feel that life is not worth living or think about ending your life?  

   Yes □ No □ 

 

Self-Assessment Results 

You answered "yes" to 5 questions. You have indicated that you feel life is not worth living. Please see a mental health professional or a psychiatrist immediately to seek help 

You answered "yes" to 2-4 questions. If you have been showing signs of depression for more than two weeks, please schedule an appointment with a mental health professional for an eval‎uation.  

You answered "yes" to 0 question 

You may not be showing signs of depression, but don't worry if you are feeling sad. Psychiatrist Dr. Gail Saltz says there's a big difference between feeling sad and being depressed. "Sadness is a normal human emotion that everybody feels and everybody should feel. It's healthy. It's part of the intricate fabric of emotions that we feel," Dr. Saltz says. "Depression is substantially different."  

[하이지니(박민정)]

아따~빠르시당...^^

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

실상은 쫌 게으릅니다...ㅎ

[June(최현경)]

Ah~ You break the record.^^ Thank you~

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

You are welcome!!

[동희]

와우~요즘은 빠른게 트렌드.ㅋㅋ

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

트렌드에 민감한편이라...ㅎ

[GeRRARD(나민식)]

벌써 떳네용..우왕~

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

청심원~

[최코디♪(최선화)]

와~~~ 엄청 빠르시네요^^ 또 열씸히 공부해야 겠다,, ㅎㅎ

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

저두요~

[엘레나(윤미영)]

정말 빠르시네요^^~

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

실상은 그렇지 않습니다....ㅎ

[Vuitton(김소윤)]

wow~땡큐 *^^*

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

제 이름은 wow가 아니라 jimmy 입니다... anyway It's a pleasure

[Vuitton(김소윤)]

앗...감탄사였는데..ㅋㅋ대문자로 쓸껄그랜나?WOW~~ㅋㅋ

[민트(남정아)]

시원시원하게 올라오니깐 좋네요~^^

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

요즘 날씨가 쫌 덥긴 합니다...

[siron(영일)]

뭐지 이빠른 토픽은... 역시 삼실에서 잘못본게 아니었네요... 멘탈 헬쓰 프라브름... 내가 좋아하는 주제군요... ㅋㅋㅋ 쪼아~!!!

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

주세요~~

[토이(이도희)]

이번주는 갈수 있길~ 토픽 감솨~

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

이번주는 뵐수 있길~ 뎃글 감솨~

[n-mini77(최은정)]

잘 읽었구요~^^ 이번주도 참석~^^

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

저도 참석~^^

[마쏴토(우)]

cool--------, thanx for the topic 4 all of us, n the subject it is likely to be welcomed very much.... n yo bro i'm talking to toy, is it real, can i expect to see ya this week? i i i miss u so dam? much...kkk

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

It's a pleasure~ Actually, I expect to see you again~ but not too much..h (~-.-)~

[띤이(이수진)]

재밌겠어요~~ 참석합니다.^^ 토픽 올리시느라 수고하셨어요~

[Jimmy(하수훈)]

감사합니다... 저도 참석할께요~~ㅎ

[Mike(최우혁)]

오랜만에 참석하네요^^ 토픽 감사 합니다.

[Sunny(이선희)]

참석할께요~ 토픽감사 ^^

[Santiago(이명준)]

리플을 쭉 읽어봤는데요.. 재밌으신 분인듯..ㅎㅎ

[서주(서주형)]

토픽 감사합니다. 요번주엔 참석할께요.

[coolfeel]

참가~