What Is It to Be Mentally Healthy from the North Korean Refugees’ Perspective?: Qualitative Research on the Changes in Mental Health Awareness among the North Korean Refugees

Abstract

ObjectiveWe investigated how mental health awareness among North Korean refugees transformed depending on temporal-spatial context changes. MethodsIn 2013, we conducted interviews with 10 refugees (eight women) who had been in South Korea for over a year and performed a qualitative analysis of the change in mental health awareness in the differences between living in North Korea, escape (a related period of forced sojourn in a third country), and settlement in South Korea. ResultsWe classified 39 concepts into five main categories. The first two categories (while living in North Korea) were “a mindset for the system, but not for individual mental health” and “being confined in a social environment that was indifferent to mental health.” A third category appeared during escape: “focusing on survival amid continuity of intense suffering.” The final two categories appeared when settling in South Korea: “recognition of mental health amid cultural shock” and “introspection and sorting oneself out.” ConclusionThis qualitative study enabled a better multi-dimensional understanding of the social and cultural aspects involved in improving mental health awareness among North Korean refugees in South Korea. It is desirable to integrate mental health as a part of daily life and to expand training for North Korean settlers.

A Systematic Review of the Protective and Risk Factors Influencing the Mental Health of Forced Migrants: Implications for Sustainable Intercultural Mental Health Practice

“…Some of the important pre-migration risk factors identified in the included studies were experiencing discrimination, constant fear, abrupt separation from family, leaving close kin behind, and witnessing the death of family members or relatives (Alemi et al 2016;Savic et al 2016). These risk factors clearly call for providing quick access to mental health services upon arrival of the forced migrants in host communities (Yassin et al 2018;Yu et al 2018;Campbell et al 2018;Şimşek et al 2018;Segal et al 2018). However, culturally sensitive mental health services are missing protective factor that positively impact willingness in seeking sustainable services in forced migrants (Şimşek et al 2018;Shawyer et al 2017;Lillee et al 2015;Rizkalla and Segal 2018;Pandya 2018).…”

“…Movement difficulties commonly occurred in the migration phase through borders and usually associate with human right violations, migrants smuggling, and systematic discrimination in transit countries (Yu et al 2018;Shawyer et al 2017). Traumatic experiences of movement periods usually remain forever and need attention as soon as possible but, it is the duty of the international organizations such as UNHCR or IOM to hold transit countries accountable, encouraging them to legally recognize forced migrants' human rights (Perrin 2010).…”

Nursing Students Facilitating the Transition from Suicidal Ideation to Action in the Rural: A Qualitative Study

“… 46 Similarly, teenagers may be exposed to historical, sociocultural, or interpersonal circumstances that appear to be minor, but which conceal undiscovered intrapersonal aspects that pose a significant suicide risk. 47 In order to prevent adolescent suicide, it is crucial that we comprehend the interrelationships of these various contributors and how they interact to present risks, paying special attention to the potentially damaging effects of intrapersonal factors, which appear to be a catalyst in - preventing suicidal ideation implemented in this research. The identification of these characteristics and their interplay underscores the need for particular interventions and prevention techniques that target cognitive distortion, emotional dysregulation, and emotions of being invalid and trapped in teenagers at risk for suicide.dskq.…”