South Korea's antidepressant prescriptions skyrocket by 156% in just one year
Antidepressant use in South Korea has surged dramatically in recent years. Last year, 24.4 million people received prescriptions, marking a 36.7% rise from 17.85 million in 2020. The sharp increase has raised concerns about the country's growing mental health challenges. The rise in antidepressant prescriptions spans all age groups. Among those aged 60 and older, numbers jumped 21.3%, from 8.69 million to 10.5 million. Younger adults saw even steeper increases: prescriptions for people in their 20s grew by 55.9%, while those in their 30s rose by 74.7%.
Children and teenagers experienced some of the most striking changes. Prescriptions for 10- to 19-year-olds soared by 127.4%, climbing from 565,000 to 1.28 million. Even younger children, aged 9 and under, received 113,000 prescriptions in 2021. Over five years, antidepressant use for hyperkinetic disorders, including ADHD, increased fivefold. Beyond depression, prescriptions for other conditions also rose sharply. These included treatments for severe stress reactions, sleep disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Overall, the total number of antidepressant prescriptions in 2021 reached 113 million, up 156.8% from 44 million in 2020. Representative Kim Mi-ae linked the surge to a worsening mental health crisis in society. She warned that the trend reflects deeper struggles affecting people of all ages.
The data highlights a rapid expansion in antidepressant use across South Korea. Every age group, from young children to the elderly, has seen significant growth in prescriptions. Authorities now face the challenge of addressing the underlying causes of this rising demand.
