Self-reported happiness levels of young adults in their 20s have declined sharply by 10 percent in just six years, a survey has found. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Korea Bizwire) —As depression and anxiety among young adults worsen due to unemployment pressures and social isolation, South Korea’s universities are grappling with an unprecedented surge in demand for psychological counseling, resulting in wait times of up to three months for some students.
At Seoul National University (SNU), the number of counseling applicants at its 16 psychological support facilities has doubled since 2021. As of December 31, students must wait between one and three months for their first session. The College of Humanities’ counseling center alone saw its applicant pool grow from 70–80 in 2021 to 157 in 2023.
Kim Hye-jin, a counselor at SNU’s “Gyeongcheong” management student support center, highlighted the overwhelming demand. “Even with five sessions daily, students still wait at least one to two months,” she said.
The trend is similar at Yonsei University, where counseling sessions have steadily risen each year since the COVID-19 pandemic. Yonsei’s psychological counseling center recorded 6,215 sessions in 2021, 7,405 in 2022, and 7,676 in 2023. “The demand for mental health services far outpaces supply in university areas,” said Lim Seung-yeon, a 23-year-old student.
The mental health crisis extends beyond universities. Nationwide, the number of depression patients has surged from approximately 750,000 in 2018 to an estimated 1.15 million in 2024, according to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Experts attribute this rise to economic struggles, including high unemployment among young adults.
Lim Myung-ho, a psychology professor at Dankook University, emphasized the need for proactive measures. “We must leverage early intervention through social media, foster partnerships with private organizations, and expand mental health services to meet this growing need,” he said.
As the mental health challenges intensify, universities and policymakers face mounting pressure to provide timely and accessible support for South Korea’s youth.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
