{"id":2203901,"date":"2024-02-21T16:02:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T07:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203901"},"modified":"2024-02-22T16:32:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T07:32:05","slug":"south-korean-firefighters-fight-more-than-fire-amid-mental-health-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/south-korean-firefighters-fight-more-than-fire-amid-mental-health-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korean firefighters fight more than fire amid mental health challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"
In Nov. 2023, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol promised to <\/span>enhance support<\/span><\/a> for the welfare and safety of the nation\u2019s firefighters, including advancements in disaster response. However, the <\/span>deaths of two firefighters<\/span><\/a> in a Mungyeong meat processing plant fire earlier this month highlighted a persistent challenge: the inadequacy of mental health support for first responders.<\/span><\/p>\n The issue of providing sufficient mental health services for firefighters in South Korea is highlighted by recent statistics from the National Fire Agency that show a significant number of firefighters are struggling with stress-related symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the agency\u2019s survey shared with <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>, about 40% of firefighters suffer from mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and sleep disorders. The survey further revealed that 43.9% of respondents felt a need for management or treatment of mental health concerns, with specific issues including PTSD (6.5%), depression (6.3%), sleep disorders (27.2%) and alcohol abuse (26.4%).<\/span><\/p>\n Despite efforts to provide counseling and mental health care, experts have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of these initiatives. The challenges faced by firefighters are systemic, with experts advocating for a more comprehensive approach to improve mental health awareness and care within this profession.<\/span><\/p>\n