Korean Job Discussion Forums

[koreaquestions]

I have a coworker who was just fired from my hagwon yesterday. I am worried that he is refusing to take steps to treat mental health issues. I have been fired from a hagwon in the past, so it hurts to see him go through this. He was on anti-depressants for some period while back home, but has stopped and it is ruining his life. He used to be a college professor here, but has dealt with stints of homelessness in the States because of these issues. He is really worried that he may wind up homeless again but just refuses to see a doctor and take medicine. When he is worried, which lately has been nearly all of the time, he becomes completely incoherent and repeats the same phrases over and over again, some repetitive thoughts he has that don't make sense. I also don't think he has the money to go back.

I was hoping his family would be able to give advice, so I talked to his mother, and she said that the family and his ties are basically severed. They will not help him financially in any way. That makes complete sense, considering his age, but it creates a very big problem for him. Would anyone know if there are any steps to find him a discounted place to stay, or a heavily discounted flight home. Or maybe if the American Embassy has any resources or recommendations for a situation like this?

Also, how do I convince him to see a doctor and go back on his meds. He keeps saying that he is having minor strokes and is worried about a heart attack as well, though I am not sure if these are hypercondriac issues. He says that he is in alot of pain and wants to kill himself. Thank you for your time and help, I promise this is not some sick spam message.

edit:
The above is all you have to read to get the gist of it. Other things I didn't want to write in the body part of the message to keep it short:

1. He is really in a lot of pain. Often he is shaking, stumbling, falling over.

2. He often threatens to kill himself and others. I know he is not serious, but in his mind he thinks that he is serious. It is honestly part of his life plan. For him, he is definitely not joking.

3. He will binge on huge amounts of (often very undercooked) food and make himself sick to the point that he needs hospitalization. His body does not respond to food properly. When he binges he goes completely crazy.

Thanks again for any replies. I'm hoping that someone will want to help a Westerner and consider that when somebody is mentally very sick, part of the blame for their actions should go to the illness as well, it is not all 100% the persons' fault.

[Stan Rogers]

You need advice from a mental health professional, not a bunch of whining FOB ETs.

[transmogrifier]

[Bondrock]

Koreaquestions,
Perhaps you need to write it all down in a letter to your friend. Sometimes the written word will reach through the fog when a live conversation cannot. Above all, urge your friend to get professional help in the letter.

[YTMND]

[creeper1]

I'd keep going the family route. His mother won't help then try his father, brother, uncle. Anyone who may care or anything could be useful to you. If you can get contact details that is. I think it is not your place to babysit this person but maybe someone can help.

[Utopian]

Anyone who's worked in the mental health field will tell you that the suicidal and homicidal ideation are very bad signs and should be taken seriously, even though you may not be inclined to think your friend is being sincere when it comes to his threats. From what you write, it seems that your friend is decompensating at a rather rapid rate. If we were in America, you could just alert mental health professionals or the authorities and stage an intervention. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this is a possibility in Korea. Thus, you can continue to emotionally support him while expressing concern for his welfare, as you have been doing. Or you can tell him that you cannot continue to bear witness to his self-destruction, but if he decides to act responsibly, you can say you will do what you can to help him get back to his home country. Until then, you can call one of the mental health professionals listed on the other board for advice on the logistics of helping him in Korea. Good luck.

[hogwonguy1979]

come on don't feed the troll

[YTMND]

[Waygeek]

[Keeper]

He needs some medical help.

Emergency Medical Information Center, 1339

At Emergency Medical Information Center, trained medical personnel (doctors, nurses and paramedics) are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 12 locations nationwide. Upon receiving an emergency call, a medical staff member gives basic first aid instructions over the phone or calls an ambulance to transport patients to a medical center for further emergency measures.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_5_9.jsp

[Lucas]

[radcon]

[Paddycakes]

[wanderkind]