Health

My family lived in Korea until 2009. I taught mathematics to middle school kids in Korea before I immigrated to Canada with my husband and kids. At that time, we had a stereotype about mental health issues in Korean society. Most people thought they are genetic, so families living with mental health and substance use conditions kept it secret. Moreover, some people misunderstood those who have mental illnesses were making excuses for their inabilities and weaknesses, so people who may have mental problems didn’t breathe a word.

My son was finally diagnosed as having ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) when he was seven. Unfortunately, mental illness was still a taboo subject in Korea eight years ago when he was diagnosed. In Korea, most grandparents understood how busy little boys were so unfortunately they thought he was a normal child. Furthermore, daycare teachers had never suggested I might go to see doctor with him because this was a forbidden discussion. Even though I was concerned about his hyperactivity, acquaintances said that it was his character, that he was energetic or that he was fine. It took two years after my initial concern to get a diagnosis. He needed to take medication when he went to grade one. Not only my family, but also my son was very confused about mental illness. Eventually, I agreed with this diagnosis and he could be treated. There were so many misunderstandings and too much overprotectiveness in his school.

We moved to Canada in September 2009. My son’s principal suggested he attend grade one instead of grade two because it was a small class. There were several activities after school in my town. He joined all kinds of sports like soccer, baseball, volleyball, hockey etc. His teachers in Canada were more open-minded about his problem. In addition, his mental illness was understood in his class. He felt they accepted him. Therefore, he has played sports with his friends and he has studied with his classmates. He is considered the same as his peers. He is the best hockey player in his team and a good student in his class.

My boy turned 14 years old in September. He has not taken any medication for ADHD since 2015. My son and I have observed attentively his feelings and behaviour. I can’t say he doesn’t have any symptoms, but we can deal with those. However, unfortunately we were very upset the beginning of the new year. My daughter’s classmate committed suicide on January 3, 2017. He was depressed and was taking medication for his condition. His mom and his twin sister are left behind. Regrettably, we only found out about his mental condition after he was in heaven. It is time to step forward to mental illness treatment and share our experiences.