Yeonpyeong Island residents suffering from debilitating PTSD

Posted on : 2011-11-19 11:49 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Residents report related health issues a year after North Korea’s artillery attack on the island
” representing the (65 individuals: 43 women and 22 men
” representing the (65 individuals: 43 women and 22 men

By Kim Young-hwan, Senior Staff Writer

Nov. 23 marks one year since the North Korean military launched an artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island, causing residents there to leave their home in the wake of the shelling and spend three months taking refuge before returning to their daily routine. A year later, many of them still suffer from the psychological effects.

“Every time I hear a loud noise outside, I am startled and everything comes back to me. I feel nervous, and I can't sleep.”

“Some of the residents are moving to Incheon because they are still afraid whenever military base exercises are announced.”

“G,” a 68-year-old woman, is still unable to sleep unless she takes medicine to relieve her anxiety. She still has a vivid recollection of the house next door to her being heavily damaged by North Korean shells, and she is worried that another attack may come at any time.

Another resident said, “Some of the older people leave for the mainland because of fear whenever military base exercises are announced, only coming back when the exercises are over. They get on edge and nervous just from hearing the sound of shooting from the military base.”

Recent health examinations of Yeonpyeong residents showed a number to be suffering from post-traumatic stress because of the shock.

The comprehensive examinations were conducted between Sept. 19 and Oct. 31 by Incheon’s Naeun Hospital and the Korea Disaster Relief Association for 149 residents who desired checkups. The results showed 44% to fall in the high-risk group for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Examination with the 23-item event impact scale used by the Psychiatric Association showed nearly half presenting the potential for post-traumatic stress disorder without treatment. The high-risk group included more women than men, at 43 and 22, respectively. If the 25 members, or 17%, in the “at risk” group are added in, fully 80 of those examined, or 61%, have yet to escape from psychological suffering as a result of the artillery attack on the island.

“We plan to carry out focused post-traumatic stress disorder management efforts, but unfortunately not many residents have come for counseling, perhaps because of the distance,” said Gang Nam-gyu, head of the Naeun Hospital emergency treatment center.

The most frequently cited problems were suspected stomach ailments, found among 110 examinees, while another 88 were believed to suffer from liver and biliary tract ailments.

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