7 out of 10 South Koreans experienced mental health issues. (Image courtesy of Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jul. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent survey has revealed that 7 out of 10 South Koreans experienced mental health issues, including severe stress and persistent depression, over the past year. This marks a significant change from the previous survey conducted two years ago.
The National Center for Mental Health disclosed these findings on July 4, based on an online survey of 3,000 South Koreans aged 15 to 69. The study, which has been conducted since 2016 to inform national mental health policy, now takes place biennially.
More than half of the respondents believed they would be shunned by some friends if diagnosed with a mental illness. Equally concerning, over half perceived individuals with mental illnesses as more dangerous than those without.
Public perception of mental health issues showed mixed results. Encouragingly, 90.5% of respondents acknowledged that anyone could develop a mental illness, up from 83.2% in 2022. Similarly, 61.4% recognized mental illnesses as brain disorders, an increase from 49.3% two years ago.
However, stigma persists. The percentage of people expecting to lose friends if diagnosed with a mental illness rose from 39.4% to 50.7%. Those viewing individuals with mental illnesses as more dangerous slightly increased from 64% to 64.6%.
Despite 55.2% of respondents rating their mental health as “good” and 78.8% claiming to actively maintain their mental well-being, the prevalence of mental health issues surged. A staggering 73.6% reported experiencing mental health problems in the past year, a 9.7 percentage point increase from 2022.
Specific issues saw alarming rises. Severe stress increased from 36% to 46.3%, while persistent depression rose from 30% to 40.2%. Internet or smartphone addiction nearly tripled from 6.4% to 18.4%, and suicidal thoughts increased from 8.8% to 14.6%.
When seeking help, 49.4% turned to family members, followed by mental health professionals (44.2%) and friends or neighbors (41.0%).
The survey also revealed gaps in mental health literacy. Only 43% correctly identified major depressive disorder, while 39.9% recognized schizophrenia when presented with case studies.
Awareness of mental health resources showed mixed results. While recognition of the National Center for Mental Health slightly increased to 66.8%, awareness of community mental health centers and crisis hotlines decreased.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
