“Over 200,000 Children and Teens Suffer from Depression and Anxiety Disorders in 4 Years: Data”

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) — About 210,000 children and teens have suffered from depression and anxiety disorders in the past four years, data showed Thursday.

Representative of the ruling People’s Power Party, Kim Byung-wook, quoted data from the National Health Insurance Agency as saying that 209,565 children and adolescents under the age of 18 received treatment for depression and anxiety disorder from 2019 until the first half of last year.

The number of children and adolescents receiving treatment for depression and anxiety disorders increased, from 50,433 in 2019 to 63,463 in 2021, and to 46,504 in the first half of last year.

By type, the number of children and adolescents who received treatment for depression and anxiety disorder reached 135,068 and 74,497, respectively.

Secondary school students accounted for 63.8% of the total number.

Representative Kim said that mental health problems that occur during childhood and adolescence continue to affect all aspects of life, including family, work and social life even after he becomes an adult, and education authorities must check mental health from pre-school and primary stages and provide support custom.

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maha@yna.co.kr