{"id":2202853,"date":"2023-11-23T17:00:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T08:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202853"},"modified":"2023-11-24T17:02:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T08:02:13","slug":"how-south-koreas-academic-pressure-fueling-youth-mental-health-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/11\/how-south-koreas-academic-pressure-fueling-youth-mental-health-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"How South Korea\u2019s academic pressure fueling youth mental health emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"
A quiet yet profound crisis is unfolding among South Korea\u2019s youth, as an alarming increase in mental health issues among teenagers is straining healthcare systems and raising societal concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n Reports from Seoul\u2019s university hospitals reveal a significant uptick in teenage psychiatric admissions. In one instance, the occupancy rate of teenagers at a psychiatric ward reached 90%, indicating a deepening crisis that extends beyond mere numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the country\u2019s <\/span>National Health Insurance Service<\/span><\/a>, treatment for depression among teenagers has risen by 60% from 2018 to 2022. This surge in demand has placed a heavy burden on tertiary care hospitals. According to a hospital receptionist at Yonsei University\u2019s Severance Hospital, scheduling an appointment with one psychiatrist is now booked through 2028.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This trend correlates with an increasing suicide rate among young people. Contributing factors include societal tendencies to overlook mental health importance and harmful influences from social media, where the promotion of self-harm or suicide has been observed.<\/span><\/p>\n In an <\/span>incident<\/span><\/a> this April, a 16-year-old girl live-streamed her final moments on social media. She revealed in her broadcast a suicide pact made with an acquaintance from \u201c<\/span>Depression Gallery<\/span><\/a>,\u201d an anonymous forum in DC Inside \u2014 one of South Korea\u2019s largest online platforms, before jumping from the 19th floor of a building.<\/span><\/p>\n This incident was not isolated. A <\/span>similar situation<\/span><\/a> occurred just a month later, but police were able to intervene and prevent a suicide attempt by two teenage girls during their live broadcast.<\/span><\/p>\n ACADEMIC PRESSURE AS A CENTRAL ISSUE<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cSince around 2018, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of suicides and attempted suicides among teens,\u201d Kwon Yong-sil, a psychiatry professor at the Catholic University of Korea, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This observation is supported by Kwon\u2019s decade-long government study examining the mental health of teenagers post-mortem. The study cites chronic depression, educational pressures, anxiety about the future and troubled interpersonal relationships as prevalent issues.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe main reason being anxiety related to academic struggles is a differentiating aspect from other countries,\u201d Kwon noted.<\/span><\/p>\n Intense academic pressure is widely recognized as a significant contributor to the rising depression and anxiety rates among South Korean youth. A <\/span>2022 survey<\/span><\/a> by World Without Worry About Shadow Education, an education non-governmental organization, found that one in four South Korean teenagers has contemplated suicide due to the overwhelming pressure of academic competition.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEach time I don\u2019t meet my academic goals, it feels like I\u2019m letting down my parents and their investment in me,\u201d an 18-year-old high school student from Seoul told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>, revealing that his parents spend approximately $1,500 monthly on private tutoring.<\/span><\/p>\n Reflecting this trend, national spending on private education has soared. Statistics Korea <\/span>reports<\/span><\/a> that expenditure on private education reached almost $20 billion (26 trillion won) \u2014 a record high \u2014 last year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cStudents are pushed to aim for top university spots, with parents deeply involved and often controlling their educational path,\u201d Lee Jae-young, a school counselor at Joongdong High School in Gangnam, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cWhen students struggle emotionally, they often find little support from school teachers or parents in this environment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lee also noted a generational gap in understanding students\u2019 academic and emotional challenges. \u201cConcerns about students needing special attention are frequently overlooked or dismissed as a normal part of growing up,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe\u2019re witnessing cases of depression in high school that have roots back in middle school, often linked to parental neglect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In response to the growing suicide crisis among youth, <\/span>Sejong City officials<\/span><\/a> began discussions in May to mandate the locking of rooftop doors on commercial buildings near student-populated areas, including private institutes, as a preventive measure.<\/span><\/p>\n