Mental health problems among youths preparing for independence have increased noticeably over the past five years.
Youths preparing for independence are those who, lacking guardians or whose guardians find it difficult to raise them, live in child welfare facilities or foster homes and, upon turning 18, see their protection end. They are also called "youths who have aged out of care."
According to an analysis by Kim Sun-min of the Health and Welfare Committee from the Rebuilding Korea Party of data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service, among 8,501 youths receiving self-reliance allowances, those who visited hospitals for mental health problems increased by 30.7%, from 687 in 2020 to 898 in 2024.
By year, the number rose 19.7% in 2021 from the previous year, dipped briefly in 2023, and then increased again by 9.5% last year.
By economic status, 4,955 were health insurance enrollees, and 3,546 were medical aid recipients. The increase was larger among health insurance enrollees, but the total number of patients was higher among medical aid recipients, who are relatively more economically vulnerable.
Among health insurance enrollees, the number who received care for mental health problems increased more than fourfold in five years, from 75 in 2020 to 326 in 2024. By contrast, medical aid recipients decreased slightly, from 612 in 2020 to 572 in 2024, but their numbers still far exceeded those of health insurance enrollees.
By diagnosis, mood disorders, in which mood changes or depression appear, were the most common. As of last year, 583 people received care for mood disorders, and both health insurance enrollees and medical aid recipients showed the same pattern.
Kim said, "Mental health problems among youths preparing for independence are structural issues that accumulate from the protection stage through post-independence," adding, "Systematic mental health management and support are needed at each stage."