76.7% of individuals with mental illness have been hospitalized at least once, with 60.3% of these admissions being involuntary. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – A comprehensive study released by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare on August 22 paints a sobering picture of the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness and their families, revealing high rates of hospitalization, suicidal thoughts, and social stigma.
The survey, conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs from September 2023 to April 2024, encompassed 1,078 individuals with mental illness and 995 family members.
Key findings show that 76.7% of individuals with mental illness have been hospitalized at least once, with 60.3% of these admissions being involuntary. In times of mental health crises, 64.3% of patients reported turning to family members or relatives for help.
Suicidal ideation emerged as a significant concern, with 20.2% of patients reporting having contemplated suicide. Health issues (53.7%), loneliness (39.4%), and poverty (34.4%) were cited as the primary triggers. Alarmingly, 77.1% of those who experienced suicidal thoughts reported dealing with them alone.
The study also highlighted the physical health challenges faced by individuals with mental illness. Only 23.9% of patients described their health as “good,” while 30% reported it as “poor.” More than half (55.6%) reported suffering from chronic illnesses in addition to their mental health issues.
Family members of those with mental illness also face significant challenges. Approximately 60% reported feeling burdened by caregiving responsibilities and experiencing discrimination from their social circles.
Only 20.9% of family members described their own health as “good,” a figure notably lower than the general population’s self-reported health status (36.2% in the 2022 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).
Suicidal thoughts were also prevalent among family members, with 20.5% reporting having seriously considered suicide in the past year. Of these, 40% had made specific suicide plans, and 28.4% had attempted suicide.
The study revealed that the average age of patients being cared for was 43.8 years, with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (48.1%), depression (20.1%), and bipolar disorder (14.9%) being the most common diagnoses.
Family members identified their greatest concern as anxiety about the patient’s future after the death of parents or guardians (42.1%). Notably, 22.8% of family members reported being diagnosed with a mental illness themselves due to the stress of caregiving.
Lee Hyung-hoon, the Director of Mental Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, outlined plans to address these issues, including strengthening the mental health emergency response system and launching housing support services next year to aid community integration of individuals with mental illness.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
