The Covid-19 pandemic, which has lasted for more than three years, is to “end,” but the worsened mental health problems of children and adolescents will likely continue. The number of patients treated for depression and anxiety disorders has risen for all ages under 18.
Rep. Kim Byeong-wook of the ruling People Power Party released a report Friday, “Current status of treatment for depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents,” submitted by the National Health Insurance Service.
The number of children and adolescents aged 0-18 with depression increased by 18.9 percent during two years, from 33,536 in 2019 to 39,870 in 2021. In the first half of 2022, the number rose to 30,339, almost equivalent to 31,263 for the whole of 2020.
Anxiety disorder patients also increased.
The number of children and adolescents treated for anxiety rose from 16,897 in 2019 to 17,902 in 2020 and 23,593 in 2021, marking an increase rate of 39.6 percent in two years. In the first half of 2022, the number stood at 16,105, approaching the annual totals of 2019 and 2020.
By age, the number of patients increased from children under six to all grade schoolers.
The growth rates of children treated for depression were 3.1 percent for 0-6-year-olds, 32.6 percent for 7-12-year-olds, 10.5 percent for 13-15-year-olds, and 21 percent for 16-18-year-olds. The corresponding increases for anxiety disorder were 25.4 percent for pre-grade schoolers, 47.7 percent for elementary school students, 44.5 percent for middle school students, and 36.8 percent for high school students.
By gender, girls outnumbered boys in both depression and anxiety disorder patients in pre- and post-pandemic years.
The number of female children and adolescents treated for depression in 2019 totaled 21,989, more than double the 10,547 among male children and adolescents. In 2021, too, girl patients outnumbered boys, with 26,116 vs. 13,754. Girls with anxiety disorder in 2019 totaled 9,677, more than 7,220 boys. The gap widened in 2021, with girl patients outnumbering boys, with 13,748 vs. 9,845.
“Mental health of children and adolescents continuously affects their lives at home, workplaces, and society even after they become adults,” Rep. Kim said. “It is necessary to check children’s mental health from they are very young and continue customized management.”