Here’s What The Korean Neuropsychiatric Associations Are Asking From The Korean Public At This Time

Following the crowd surge in Itaewon that occurred on October 29, South Korean psychiatric specialists and nurses are urging people to stop sharing videos and photos from the scene, as well as refrain from expressing hate and blame, which can cause multiple psychological trauma. The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA) issued an emergency statement on October 30.

[The Itaewon incident] has caused people to experience tremendous psychological trauma due to the loss of lives. We are releasing the following statement to prevent further psychological trauma caused by this disaster.

Distributing videos and photos of the scene at the time of the accident without filtration should be stopped. Such actions can damage the reputation of the deceased and victims and lead to secondary and tertiary damage. It can also cause psychological trauma to a large number of people. It is recommended to refrain from excessively viewing scenes or news, as it can adversely affect one’s health.

— KNPA

They also emphasized the need to refrain from expressing hatred toward the situation.

Hate speech online during a disaster can aggravate the trauma of the bereaved family and those who were at the scene, bringing great pain, and thus hindering their recoveries. Hatred and stigma create social conflict and do not help resolve the situation.

The media should protect individual human rights, such as honoring the victims’ privacy while reporting and try not to cause social confusion or anxiety. It is also necessary to inform people who are suffering from mental health difficulties of the correct information and organizations that can help them.

It is a situation that requires large-scale mental health support, as great shock is expected for many people, including the bereaved family and acquaintances, the injured and their families, eyewitnesses, and first response personnel. As in the case of national disasters such as the Sewol ferry disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperation of experts is necessary.

— KNPA

The Korean Nursing Association and Psychiatric Nursing Association also released a statement regarding the situation.

It can cause psychological trauma to the people who view the videos and photos (at the scene of the accident) without preparation. We should all show a sense of citizenship and try not to spread videos and photos any further. It is a situation that requires large-scale mental health support, as a great shock is expected for many people, including the bereaved family and acquaintances, the injured and their families, eyewitnesses, and first response personnel.

— Korean Nursing Association

Meanwhile, Koreans are also raising awareness of physical trauma that could have resulted from the incident.

Koreans Raise Awareness For “Crush Syndrome,” Urge Itaewon Incident Survivors To Seek Medical Help