"Reinforcing Depression Stigma...
Worsening the Mental Health Crisis"
On the morning of the 11th, at an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, where a first-grade female student was murdered, parents are paying tribute to Kim Haneul, who died along with her young child. Photo by Yonhap News
Assistant Professor Na Jong-ho of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine stated regarding the 'Daejeon Elementary School Student Murder Case' that "the crime lies with the criminal, depression is not a crime."
On the 11th, Professor Na posted on his Facebook under the title "Depression is not a crime," saying this. He said, "As a father of a daughter the same age, this is a heartbreaking matter, and I cannot even begin to imagine the feelings the victim's parents must be experiencing," adding, "I pray for the deceased's soul and hope the bereaved family can receive the necessary support."
He continued, "The perpetrator must pay the appropriate price for their crime," but also said, "I think it is inappropriate for the media to rush to mention the perpetrator's history of taking leave due to depression when nothing has been clarified yet."
On the morning of the 11th, a citizen is paying tribute and leaving snacks at an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, where a first-grade female student was murdered. Photo by Yonhap News
He stated, "Such reporting reinforces the stigma around depression, preventing those who need help from receiving treatment, which will further worsen Korea's mental health crisis," adding, "The treatment rate for depression in Korea is still only 10%. Nine out of ten people do not receive proper treatment."
According to Yonhap News Agency, the day before, a female teacher in her 40s, identified as Ms. A, stabbed and killed an 8-year-old girl at an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon. Ms. A had been receiving treatment for depression since 2018 and reportedly took a six-month medical leave starting December 9 of last year. However, she abruptly ended her leave and returned to work early at the end of last year. In police investigations, Ms. A stated that she committed the crime out of frustration from being excluded from classes.
Professor Na criticized some media outlets for emphasizing Ms. A's depression, saying, "Saving a person's life is not the doctor's job alone," and added, "A pen can both save and take a life. Please keep this in mind."
Meanwhile, Professor Na gained attention after appearing on the tvN variety show 'You Quiz on the Block' in January 2023. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in psychology, then attended Seoul National University College of Medicine, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and completed residency at New York University. He is currently a professor at Yale University School of Medicine.
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