"Increased Depression Since COVID-19, Declining but Still High"

March 2022 COVID-19 National Mental Health Survey
Increased Depression in People in Their 30s, Women, and Those with Reduced Income

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The proportion of people feeling depressed or contemplating extreme choices remains higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the 3rd, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced the results of the "COVID-19 National Mental Health Survey," which included this information. This survey was conducted in March on 2,063 adults nationwide.

The survey results showed that the depression risk group was 18.5%, and the suicide ideation rate was 11.5%.

In this quarterly survey, the depression risk group increased from 17.5% in March 2020 to 22.8% in March 2021, then gradually decreased to 18.9% in December last year and 18.5% in March this year. However, it remains significantly higher compared to 3.2% in March 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

By age group, the proportion of the depression risk group was highest among those in their 30s at 26.7%, followed by 40s at 20.4%, and 20s at 18.6%. By gender, women accounted for 20.3%, higher than men at 16.7%. Additionally, the depression risk group with decreased income was 22.7%, higher than those whose income increased or remained the same (16.7%).

During the same period, the suicide ideation rate also remained higher than in 2019 (4.6%). The suicide ideation rate rose from 9.7% in March 2020 to 16.3% in March 2021, then decreased to 13.6% in December last year and 11.5% in March this year.

The highest suicide ideation rate among all age groups was in the 30s at 15.2%, followed by 40s at 13.3%, and 20s at 11.9%. Unlike depression, men had a higher rate at 12.2% compared to women at 10.9%. Those with decreased income showed a higher suicide ideation rate of 15.2%.

Anxiety scored 3.8 out of 21 points, showing a gradual decline from 5.5 points in March 2020 and 4.6 points in March last year.

The proportion of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk group, surveyed for the first time this time, was 12.8%. Among those who responded that they or their close family members experienced shocking events such as quarantine, confirmed infection, or death due to COVID-19 (1,216 people), the PTSD risk group proportion was higher at 21.6%.

The proportion of people willing to use mental health services was high at 57.8%, but awareness of these services was only 18.1%.

Professor Hyun Jin-hee of Daegu University’s Department of Social Welfare, the lead researcher of the survey, stated, "The depression risk group is higher among people in their 30s, women, and those with decreased income, while the suicide ideation rate is higher among people in their 30s, men, and those with decreased income. Recently, the depression risk rate among people in their 40s has been rising, so caution is needed."

Meanwhile, the government, upon receiving this survey result, decided to strengthen psychological support for COVID-19 recovery in daily life.

First, psychological support for COVID-19 confirmed patients will shift from the existing national and regional trauma centers to local government mental health welfare centers, providing comprehensive mental health services within the community. Additionally, support for vulnerable groups such as COVID-19 bereaved families and response personnel will be strengthened, and measures such as expanding the visiting Mind Relief Bus will be implemented.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.