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KMID : 1151020220500030077
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Mental Health & Social Work
2022 Volume.50 No. 3 p.77 ~ p.99
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Qualitative study on the changes in mental health perceptions among female North Korean defectors in South Korea
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Shin Jee-Soo
Kim Myeong-Hee
Song In-Han
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Abstract
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North Korean defectors are known to experience psychological distress due to social factors. We investigated how female North Korean (NK) defectors’ perceptions of mental health problems have changed in North Korea, intermediate countries, and South Korea. Eight female North Korean defectors were interviewed in 2020. A quantitative content analysis was utilized to analyze the interview results. A cross-case analysis was used to find major themes regarding the changes in perception of mental health issues in each migration phase, and four major themes for the perception of mental health issues were identified. Female North Korean defectors had never heard of the term "mental health" in North Korea and did not look into their own mental health because it was difficult to live without an identity in a third country. They encountered mental health for the first time in Korea and had their own definition of it. Although some subjects approached mental health services on their own when experiencing psychological distress after becoming aware of mental health, others responded negatively to mental health, such as having difficulty sharing their trauma. As a result of this study, it suggests that although the study participants come to Korea and develop an awareness of mental health, there is still a lack of information on mental health services and there are still untreated mental health problems. Based on the results of this study, ways to increase their access to mental health services in Korea are discussed.
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KEYWORD
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female North Korean detectors, perception toward mental health, mental health service use, migration phases, qualitative research
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