Depression and Suicidal Ideation By Economic Status and Social Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In January 2024, there were an estimated 1,306 suicide deaths in Korea, which is a 32.3% increase from the 987 deaths reported in the same month in 2023. This marks the highest number of suicide deaths in January since 2000. Furthermore, in 2022, over 1 million individuals received treatment for depression. The extended COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on mental health, leading to increased rates of depression and anxiety, as well as increased economic hardship and social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic is over, but its negative effects are still in place.

This study investigated the prevalence and changing trends of depression and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering economic status, income change, fear of livelihood and job problems, and social isolation.

Data from the 2021 and 2022 surveys of the COVID-19 National Mental Health Survey were used in the analysis. It was conducted online at three-month intervals from March 2020 to December 2022, with a nationwide sample of 2063 to 2110 adults in each wave.

Economic status, income change, fear for job, and livelihood were assessed on a scale ranging from low to high; income change as decrease, no change, or increase; and fear for job and livelihood as either none or yes. Social relationships were categorized as having a psychological support provider, having a mental health professional, or none. Depression was assessed using the PHQ-9 and suicidal ideation was identified using question 9 of the PHQ-9.

The main findings were that depression was 22.75% in March 2021, 18.08% in June, 18.52% in September and 18.90% in December, and 18.47% in March 2022, 16.92% in June, 18.66% in September and 18.95% in December. Suicidal ideation was 16.26% in March 2021, 12.41% in June, 13.81% in September and 13.62% in December, and 11.54% in March 2022, 12.70% in June, 12.89% in September and 14.49% in December. Depression by economic status factor, the low level group 29.2-36.6%, in the decrease income group 22.1-26.7%, and in the fear of job and livelihood group 26.8-33.6% was significantly higher compare to other group. In the psychological support provider factor, the group without psychological support providers was 22.8-33.0% while the mental health professional group was 27.3-44.4%, compared to 14.9-21.2% in the psychological support provider group. In terms of suicidal ideation, the low economic status group was 19.6-28.6%, the decreased income group was 14.9-18.4%, and the fear of job and livelihood group was 16.9-25.7%, which was significantly higher than the other groups. The group without a psychological support provider was 19.5-28.1% and the group with a mental health professional was 21.7-37.5%, significantly higher than the group with a psychological support provider, which was 10.0-14.2%.

These results confirm that depression and suicidal ideation are more prevalent among economically disadvantaged and socially isolated groups. The findings suggest that providing economic support to these groups and offering various mental health services to reduce depression are necessary to address the rapid increase in suicide deaths that Korea is currently experiencing.