Where to go for mental health services if you can't speak Korean

People put their hands in the center during a support group session. gettyimagesbank

By Jon Dunbar

Mental health is important in times like this. But for foreign nationals in Korea who might not speak Korean or don't have the financial resources to pay for regular counseling, seeking help can be difficult, frustrating and even feel impossible. However, there are counseling services and support groups available, some of which are free.

There are various hotlines available for those who speak Korean, such as LifeLine Korea (1588-9191), Korea Suicide Prevention Center (1393), Counsel24 (1566-2525), Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling (1577-0199) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center (129). Sometimes numbers like these are published at the end of articles that contain traumatizing information, often without mention of what languages services are offered in.

The Korea Times contacted all five of those hotlines to test whether they were suitable resources for non-Korean-speaking callers. All five answered with an automatic message in Korean language only, with no guidance in any foreign languages. By pressing 1 and 0 on the health ministry's hotline, this reporter was able to reach a live person only on the health ministry's line. The person on the other end, who spoke limited English, put the call through to someone else, who recommended the phone number 1345, the Immigration Contact Center, which seems more suited for visa consultations, not mental health counseling.

There's no denying these hotlines are doing important work, and are probably especially busy at the moment dealing with calls coming in from people they can help. They may be sufficient for our readers who know the local language well, but where do other language speakers turn when they're in distress?

There are plenty of psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors active here these days offering services in languages other than Korean, mostly English.

"It's hard to know where one can find foreign-language support because it's rarely advertised," said Emma Sparkes, founder of Mental Health - Women in Korea and Men in Korea- Mental Health, both of which she added are trans-inclusive. "Everyone needs support sometimes and living in a foreign country can be very isolating, especially if you're not fluent in the local language. Even though it's ideal for foreign residents to learn Korean, it shouldn't be a barrier that prevents people from accessing the help that they need. And even if you have good Korean skills, it can be daunting to try to express your difficulties or traumas in a foreign language."

She started the two Facebook groups in response to a growing community need for information on mental health resources available to foreign residents. They provide a forum for community-based emotional support and an extensive list of English-language mental health services in Korea, but do not offer professional psychiatric advice itself.

Another useful site is expathealthseoul.com, which offers a long list of English-speaking, foreigner-friendly psychiatrists in Seoul. Gangnam Global Village Center has also shared a similar list.

"Fortunately, English-language mental health resources have grown significantly in the past 10 years," Sparkes said. "There are more counseling services dedicated to providing help to foreigners and Seoul Global Center also offers five counseling sessions for 50,000won for those who need it. The increase in available services is very encouraging and as Korea becomes increasingly diverse, I hope that we'll continue to see more services available for those who need them."

Of course, most of these mental health services are likely to be extra busy these days, but they also likely recognize the need to be available to help those who are most vulnerable following the incident.

"It has been very busy with inquiries and referrals since the weekend," said Dr. Jill Dunbar, a clinical psychologist at Adaptable Human Solutions (AHS), a psychological counseling service in Seoul. "We have all seen the distressing numbers of those who lost their lives and have been seriously injured. However, there is a missing figure of the number of psychological and emotional injuries which occurred that night, many of which remain hidden. There will be hundreds of people trying to process the horrific events which they witnessed, dealing with flashbacks and surges of distress, anger and guilt, struggling to get through their day. These are the victims of such events which can often be forgotten."

Her clinic has announced that she will host a free support group for those who have been directly impacted by the tragedy in Itaewon.

"We have had a lot of interest in our free support group, highlighting just how many individuals have been impacted by this tragedy," she said. "The group is intended to be a safe and caring space for people to come together and know that they are not alone. We particularly wanted to have a space for our expat and student community. Often expat life can come with challenges of isolation and being far away from your support network. We recognize the unique experience of our expats and want to ensure they are supported."

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.

Dr. Park Chan-min is a psychiatrist at Seoul Central Mental Health Clinic, which offers mental health services in Korean and English for people suffering depression, PTSD and trauma, as well as providing stress therapy and couples counseling.

"Patients can usually get an appointment within two weeks, sometimes one to two days," he told The Korea Times. For urgent issues, I sometimes squeeze in patients for a quick intervention."

He added that for emergency assistance, non-Korean-speaking patients should visit the emergency room of a major university hospital. "It might not be smooth but they have the resources for urgent intervention," he said.

He also pointed out that, while mental health services may be limited in languages other than Korean, there are translation services that can help. He recommended Danuri Portal and Multicultural Family Support Center, which offers translation services in 13 languages. "I've heard that some patients got help (from Danuri) while they were meeting with doctors," he said.

Another person who called the Danuri Helpline (1577-1366) found that they even offered to contact the relevant agency to schedule an appointment with a mental healthcare provider.

Promoting mental health amid tragedy

Dr. Park shared some tips for everyone to take care of their own mental health and look out for those around them.

"Everybody is suffering from tragic events like this," Dr. Park said. "Stick with your loved ones and avoid being isolated. If you feel like you're not your old self, don't hesitate to seek professional help. You have to activate your support system and apply all the possible resources to get through these difficult times."

Dr. Park said disasters like the one in Itaewon bring out lots of emotions, such as guilt, anxiety, fear and sadness. He advised everyone to talk with loved ones including family and friends.

"Letting out the emotions and supporting each other in difficult times will be the most powerful and effective way," he said.

He also recommended people resume their regular daily routines.

"Resuming your everyday life is also a wise choice. Despite all the negative emotions, trying to focus on your everyday life is helpful," he said. If you feel like your daily life is being affected too much, especially if it's affecting your ability to function, you should seek professional help.

He was cautious about recommending everyone visit any of the memorials set up around the country.

"Visiting a memorial event could help with getting closure but you should go only if you feel like you can tolerate it," he said.

As well as focusing on one's own mental health, it is also important to listen to those around you and be aware of any warning signs in their behavior.

"Drastic changes in behavior would definitely be something to be aware of. Social withdrawal, negative mood, expressions of severe guilt or suicidal thoughts would also be red flags to look out for," he said. "Never judge. Hear them out. Try to empathize and focus on the emotions they are going through. Try to stay away from offering careless advice."