Over 7,000 counseling sessions offered over Itaewon tragedy: data

The national mental health center for disaster victims provided over 7,000 counseling sessions over last year's tragic Itaewon disaster, data showed Tuesday.

The National Center for Disaster and Trauma conducted 7,141 counseling sessions over the past year after the Itaewon crowd crush that took 159 lives on Oct. 29, 2022, according to data sourced from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and disclosed by Rep. In Jae-keun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.

In the period from Oct. 30 last year to Oct. 5 this year, almost a third of the consultations, 2,049, were sought by the general public, followed by 1,880 for the bereaved families of the victims and 1,818 for those who witnessed the Itaewon disaster. Counseling sessions for those who sustained injuries during the crowd surge recorded 1,041, while rescuers, including firefighters and police officers, received 196 consultations. The families of the injured survivors had the lowest number of consultation cases at 157.

Among the individuals who received counseling, 28 were classified as a high-risk group, including 12 witnesses, 11 bereaved family members and five injured individuals. The high-risk category includes people who are experiencing difficulties in their everyday lives and are prone to consistent suicidal thoughts.

Those who experienced the Itaewon disaster are more likely to be subject to anxiety disorder, depression and sleep disorder, officials from the center said.

The Ministry of Health is offering psychological counseling at five mental health institutions including the National Center for Disaster and Trauma in Seoul's Gwangjin-gu, as well as regional national hospitals in Naju, South Jeolla Province, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Bugok, Gyeonggi Province, and Gongju, South Chungcheong Province.

Psychological support is being provided through diverse channels, including telephone and video sessions, as well as in a range of locations, such as in special buses, designated booths and one's own home.