Depression in South Korea (Essay Sample)

[Title here, up to 12 words, on one to two lines] [Author name(s), First M. Last, omit titles and qualifications] [Institutional affiliation(s)] Depression in South Korea The country: South Korea, is slowly turning out to be a highly aged population. On the testimony of Lee (2012), the country also has the quickest aging population in the world (Lee, 2012). On the testimony of Chu, an estimated number of thirty six Koreans take their lives everyday (Chu, 2018). This gives rise to the notion that in every forty minutes, a Korean commits suicide. Some of the time, it appears as though the Republic of South Korea, overburdened, overtaxed, and ever so perturbed, is so close to experiencing a nationwide nervous breakdown. The country not only suffers from increasing rates of divorce and pupils who feel trapped by academic oppression, but also possesses a suicide rate amongst one of the highest in the world as well as an aggressively common culture that promotes “blackout drinking sessions after work” (McDonald, 2011). Irrespective of this, Koreans, although nearly addictively accepting Western modernisation, varying from smartphones to cosmetic surgery, have greatly opposed Western psychotherapy for their increasing concerns, depression and tension. This paper strives to give an in-depth analysis of depression in South Korea, as well as the stigma associated with mental illness in the country. Korea is well known, for its significant increase of death by suicide within the nation. The New York Times for instance, has published reports, discussing with physiotherapists in South Korea, in attempts to comprehend why it is reported that over thirty South Koreans commit suicide every day (McDonald, 2011). In the year 2008, the death of a popular South Korean actress: Jin-Sil Choi, was identified as suicide. “Six years later, little has changed, and there has been another spike in high-profile suicides. Sulli was found dead in October, Goo Hara in November, and Cha In Ha in December.” (Kim Dae-o, 2020). All the aforementioned individuals were regarded as idols in the country, and role models for the adolescents of South Korea. In accordance with an exposition by the Korean Doctors Association which was released in the year 2008, “there are thirty eight people who commit suicide everyday in Korea, and 70% of these people are diagnosed with depression.” (Park, 2011). Additionally, OECD, “Korea’s suicide rate is the highest in the OECD. Contrary to patterns seen in most OECD countries, it has risen significantly in the last decade.” (OECD). Thus, the Republic of South Korea has well earned the name, “suicide nation” amongst the OECD nations. On the testimony of the Ministry of Health and welfare, estimably thirteen thousand individuals took their own lives in the year 2016. Amongst these individuals, 1900 of them were in their thirties, 2600 in their forties, and 2,700 in their fifties. Additionally, an estimate of 3,500 elderly individuals also ended their lives, making the suicide rate among the elderly double the rate of the general public, and thrice the estimate suicide rate amongst elderly people in OECD nations (Chu, 2018). “Most people commit suicide because they have trouble communicating and feel isolated” (Southers, 2012). The problem has indeed, become such a critical area of concern, that the government finally declared alleviations to reduce the rate of suicide in the country to seventeen suicides in a hundred thousand individuals by the year 2022 (Chu, 2018). With the budgetary and collective cost of suicide adding up to six billion dollars, the ministry of health has founded a fully developed sector charged with the responsibility for creating and executing a national strategy for the prevention of suicide. The ministry also declared that it would accomplish this feat by sponsoring professionals of suicide prevention, and also endorsing free check ups for depression. Nevertheless, it appears to be be missing the very reason why the suicide rate is so high in the country, which is that Korea possesses a culture that does not accept mental illnesses. The values of South Korea traditionally revolve around Buddhism. These values draw attention to humility and household in the very first place. Thus, individual worries are not the most important concerns to the family. “Talking openly about emotional problems is still taboo” (The Borgen project). South Koreans are pressured, depressed, and are steering clear of therapy at a very frightening rate. The suicides therefore bring to light, a more intense and disturbing truth about the Korean community, which is that Koreans can not be psychologically ill. The stigma, as well as the judgement surrounding mental illness is so powerful, that mentioning the fact that an individual suffers from mental illness equates begging for ridicule. Thus, mental illness in South Korea, is something though very few individuals, even those who are mental ill, would willingly admit. Therefore, the ridicule that accompanies a mental illness diagnoses usually arises from the fact that the citizens are highly unaccustomed to , scared of, or merely repulsed by the conception of mental illness. Amalgamated with lengthened economic struggle, merciless competition, a culture that criticises honesty, and where being different from the rest is not acceptable, individuals are deprived the freedom to decline or acknowledge that they are mentally ill. Culture has an important part to play in the manner in which people view their environments and evolve. Beginning at childhood, the persisting cultural model dictates to individuals, what physical and psychological emotions, alterations and occurrences should be accepted and segmented (Arnault). For the purpose of his assessment, J. Park put forth a comprehensive quantitative evaluation concerning the topic of psychological health in Asia, particularly in the Republic of South Korea. He concluded that “traditionally, Asian Americans try to resolve their problems on their own, believing that mental health can be maintained by avoiding bad thoughts and exercising will power” (Jay Park, 2011). Particularly, Koreans who suffer from psychological problems are usually disheartened from seeking psychological health services by the members of their family; this may be attributed to the fact that it is a conviction that the use of psychological health services would faint the reputation of the family and being shame upon the family. Thus, citizens of Korea do not often discuss their individual and family problems with outsiders (Sin, Jordan and Park, 2011). Koreans, as well as Korean Americans seem to have the conception that having a psychological illness is equivalent to having a spiritual problem, and these two terminologies are not different in accordance with Shamanism, Christianity, Animism or Confucianism, which are the four most significant foundations of spirituality in Korean culture (Park, 2011). As a result of this factor, mental illnesses are seen as an individual feature, rather than as psychologically based. The ethics of Confucianism is enormously embedded in the hearts of Koreans, which greatly influences their thoughts and characters. There are five morals of Confucianism which have been acknowledged in assessments. They are; peace between married partners, respect between elders and the young, reliance among acquaintances, devotion between citizens and sovereignty and respectfulness between husband and wife. The morals of Korean culture have placed emphasis on the idea that individuals should aim to be codependent, and be at peace with each each other, rather than competition (Park, 2011). Due to these enormously greatly convictions, “Koreans see themselves as members of a group” (Pang, 1995). In addition to this, in the Korean Culture “people who need assistance usually look first to their family members” (Pang, 1995). This ideology has the ability to create restrictions for Korean people seeking help with regards to their mental health, as these services are commonly offered by people who they consider outsiders. In conclusion, problems with psychological heath, commercial difficulty, as w...