HIRA recently reported a significant rise in the number of individuals seeking treatment for depression, surpassing one million in 2022. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea recently reported a significant rise in the number of individuals seeking treatment for depression, surpassing one million in 2022.
Looking back over the past five years, there has been a consistent increase in these numbers. Starting from 753,011 in 2018, the count rose steadily, exceeding 900,000 in 2021, and eventually breaking the one million threshold in 2022. This marks a substantial increase of 32.8% compared to four years earlier.
This rise in cases has naturally led to a dramatic increase in treatment expenses. In 2022, the total cost reached a substantial 537.8 billion won. This is a significant jump from the 335.8 billion won recorded in 2018, crossing the 400 billion won mark in 2020, and showing an additional increase of over 100 billion won in just two years.
Overall, this is a 60.1% increase in four years, with an average treatment expense of 538,000 won per individual.
The report also sheds light on gender differences in depression rates, with a higher prevalence among women. Female patients accounted for 674,050 of the total, more than double the number of male patients, which was 325,982. The growth rate since 2018 was higher among women at 34.7%, compared to 29.1% for men.
Age-wise, the majority of patients were in their 20s, numbering 194,200, followed by those in their 30s, 60s, and 40s.
Depression, characterized by persistent sadness, fatigue, irritability, and anger, can cause various emotional and physical difficulties and often leads to suicidal thoughts or attempts.
To address this growing concern, the government aims to provide psychological counseling to more than 1 million people during the current president’s tenure.
Additionally, the government is shortening the mental health screening interval for individuals aged 20-34 from 10 years to two years and expanding screenings to include conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Experts stress the importance of establishing a mental health prevention system on a societal level, along with personal initiatives such as regular exercise. “Exercise not only helps in alleviating depression but also in preventing it.
If you’re contemplating which activity to choose, it’s best to stick with something that has always interested you and make it a long-term commitment,” recommended Jeon Hong-jin from Samsung Seoul Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
