Firefighter Trauma, Need for Long-term Psychological Treatment System
A firefighter in his 30s, Mr. Park, who had been suffering from depression after supporting the scene of the Itaewon disaster, was found dead 10 days after going missing.
It has been revealed that Mr. Park received psychological treatment more than 10 times since being deployed to the disaster site in 2022.
According to the Incheon Fire Department on the 19th, Mr. Park has received a total of 12 psychological treatments, including 9 sessions supported by the Fire Department in 2022, the year the Itaewon disaster occurred.
However, Mr. Park recently left a note apologizing to his family and friends, and after going missing on the 10th, he was found dead under a bridge near the Gyeonggi Province Siheung City Gyumi-dong on the afternoon of the 20th at around 12:30 PM.
The Reality of Firefighter Trauma and Limitations of Treatment
In fact, it is quite common for firefighters deployed to disaster sites to suffer from the memories of tragedies like those experienced by Mr. Park.
According to a study published by the National Fire Science Academy last year, among 1,057 fire service workers in Seoul, 477 (45.1%) reported experiencing trauma. However, only 123 (25.8%) of them had actually received treatment.
The most common reason for not receiving treatment was that 57.0% believed they would "recover soon," while 23.4% responded that they "did not recognize the symptoms." This indicates that many firefighters tend to underestimate or fail to recognize their mental health issues.
In a survey regarding the duration of treatment, 23.6% reported receiving treatment within a week, which was the highest percentage.
This was followed by those who received treatment for 1 to less than 6 months (20.3%) and those who received treatment for 1 month (19.5%). There were also 10.6% who reported having received treatment for only one day.
Experts point out that a more long-term treatment approach is necessary to effectively address the psychological pain of firefighters.
Image source: Flyer created by Mr. Park’s family, unrelated material photo / News1, photos from the time of the Itaewon disaster / News1
