A recent study led by Professor Myung Ki of Korea University College of Medicine (KUCM) has unveiled a troubling link between education levels and suicide rates in South Korea. The research, which analyzed data from 1995 to 2020, reveals that young men aged 30 to 44 with only an elementary school education or less face suicide rates that are 6.1 to 13 times higher than their peers with university degrees or higher.
The findings underscore the significant role socioeconomic factors play in shaping suicide risks, with those from lower educational backgrounds particularly vulnerable. In 2015, the suicide rate for men in this group was a staggering 288.2 per 100,000 individuals, dropping slightly to 251.4 in 2020. These figures are nearly ten times higher than the national average suicide rate of 27.3 in South Korea, and even surpass those in some of the most suicide-prone regions globally, such as Nunavut, Canada, and the Guarani Kaiowa people in Brazil’s Amazon.
The study’s results align with the “deaths of despair” theory, proposed by Nobel laureate Angus Deaton, which suggests that economic hardship and social disadvantage are major drivers of suicide. This theory posits that despair from these factors can push individuals toward self-harm. The research suggests that suicide in South Korea is not merely an individual health issue but a reflection of deep-rooted social inequalities, where lower education correlates with higher suicide rates.
Professor Ki emphasized that suicide should be viewed through a broader lens, addressing it as a societal problem rather than just an individual mental health crisis. He warned that without adequate support systems, economic and social disadvantages can stigmatize individuals, exacerbating their psychological distress. “The lack of support can lead to a sense of failure, which further fuels the mental health crisis,” said Ki.
To address these disparities, the study calls for a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention that integrates both social issues—such as poverty and fraud—with mental health interventions. This multifaceted strategy is crucial for tackling the root causes of suicide and reducing the inequalities in suicide rates across social classes.
While South Korea has made strides in expanding mental health services, including initiatives like the “National Mind Investment & Support Project,” Professor Ki advocates for stronger, more targeted policies to address the social factors contributing to suicide. “Policies that consider social vulnerability are essential to suicide prevention. We must recognize these efforts as acts of social respect and care for the most vulnerable members of society,” he concluded.
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