I have become aware through personal experience that there is shame in mental illness in Korean culture. Immigrant parents are often are in denial about the seriousness of mental illness of family members. In conversations with professionals I have learned that when mental illness issues come up in Korean families, family members tend to try to place blame as opposed to solving the problem. What this means is that even if some of the shooters teachers saw problems and tried to help him, he very well might have been told by members of his family that “there is nothing wrong with you, you are working too hard, you should pray more, something is wrong with the school etc…” As one psychologist told me “the family becomes enemy of the treatment.’

Psychotic mental illness doesn’t just pop up because a kid is having a bad time at school. It is cased by a chemical imbalance in the brain( like bipolar) or trauma during childhood , almost always before the age of 13. Yet I have hear from school professionals that initial reaction when talking to Asian immigrant parents of mentally ill young adults is either denial or to blame a girlfriend, job, school, or spouse. I talked with psychologist who said the parents blamed him. That their kid was fine until the psychologist convinced him he was crazy.

Teachers and fellow students felt the killer had problems and recommended treatment. WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILY!! Why weren’t they aware of his problems and trying to get him help. I think this denial of mental illness within the culture may be to blame .

I have become aware through personal experience that there is shame in mental illness in Korean culture. Immigrant parents are often are in denial about the seriousness of mental illness of family members. In conversations with professionals I have learned that when mental illness issues come up in Korean families, family members tend to try to place blame as opposed to solving the problem. What this means is that even if some of the shooters teachers saw problems and tried to help him, he very well might have been told by members of his family that “there is nothing wrong with you, you are working too hard, you should pray more, something is wrong with the school etc…” As one psychologist told me “the family becomes enemy of the treatment.’

Psychotic mental illness doesn’t just pop up because a kid is having a bad time at school. It is cased by a chemical imbalance in the brain( like bipolar) or trauma during childhood , almost always before the age of 13. Yet I have hear from school professionals that initial reaction when talking to Asian immigrant parents of mentally ill young adults is either denial or to blame a girlfriend, job, school, or spouse. I talked with psychologist who said the parents blamed him. That their kid was fine until the psychologist convinced him he was crazy.

Teachers and fellow students felt the killer had problems and recommended treatment. WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILY!! Why weren’t they aware of his problems and trying to get him help. I think this denial of mental illness within the culture may be to blame .

I agree.

I agree.