From DW
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, falling incomes, worsening fears about jobs and prolonged social distancing that is anathema to many South Koreans, the nation appears to be slipping into a crisis of mental health.
Government statistics show that the number of people in South Korea who deliberately harmed themselves in the first half of 2020 soared nearly 36% on the same period last year. A record 595,724 people have been treated for depression, up 5.8% on the first six months of 2019, while suicide rates have also risen.
Cases of suicide among women in their late teens and 20s are of particular concern, with 1,924 deaths in this age group in the first half of the year — an increase of more than 7% on last year’s figure. Experts also point out that the statistics do not record the number of attempted suicides.
“The biggest worry that I hear about now, the biggest insecurity is about people’s futures at this difficult time,” said Dr. Park Chanmin, founder of the Seoul Central Mental Health Clinic.
Read more: South Korea struggling to control resurgence of coronavirus
Pandemic fears
“Since the start of the pandemic, people have become more and more worried about their jobs, they are seeing their incomes falling, and that is having an impact on their day-to-day lives,” he told DW. “This is a trend that appears to be emerging.”
Simple suggestions for mental health during the pandemic Go for a walk, exercise, breathe clean air… Read 6 Essential tips for a sound-mind-body during COVID-19
Experts point out that suicide among young women was up an alarming 17.9% in April, the month when the pandemic was raging through South Korean society. Schools and universities were shut down, companies were attempting to arrange for employees to work from home, firms were going under, and opportunities to go out with friends or family for meals or drinks simply vanished due to the virus. Read more from DW
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