J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 Mar;53(2):72-74.

Introducing the Policy Research Project of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

• Jung HY
• Lee KJ
• Na KS

Abstract

Mental health policy influences the mental health system and promotion in the medium and longer term. Thus, many countries develop a mental health plan suitable for their countries. In 2012, the suicide rate in Korea was 28.1 per 100000 persons, representing a nine-year high among countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. In addition, suicide rates in Korea increase as a function of age. For example, the prevalence of suicide per 100000 persons is 19.3 among people in their 20 s and 83.2 among those in their 70 s, respectively. Another important mental health issue in Korea is a need for 'positive psychiatry', which generally aims to improve mental health and psychiatric conditions, not only in patients with psychiatric illnesses but also in the general population. As the definition of mental health is being broadened, psychiatrists should expand their range of activities and collaborate more with other professional and civic groups. Psychiatrists belonging to various institutions, such as mental health groups, clinics, mental health hospital, and general hospital, also need to find ways to expand the importance of their roles. Given the growing responsibilities for the mental health policy, the Policy Research Institute of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association planned eight review articles on the mental health of Korea in the medium and longer term.

Keyword

Mental health; Health policy; Health promotion

MeSH Terms

Academies and Institutes
Health Policy
Health Promotion
Hospitals, General
Humans
Korea
Mental Health
Prevalence
Psychiatry
Suicide

Reference

1. Who.int [homepage on the Internet]. Health topics: Technology, health. Geneva: World Health Organization;cited 2013 Dec 25. Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/technology_medical/en.

2. Kang EJ. Victoria's mental health reform plan 2009-2019. Health Welf Policy Forum. 2009; (155):77–87.

3. Ministry of Health and Welfare. The national health plan 2020. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2011.

4. Statistics Korea. 2012 death and cause of death in Korea. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2013.

5. Oecd.org [homepage on the Internet]. Health status. OECD.StatExtracts 2013. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;cited 2013 Dec 25. Available from: http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_STAT.

6. WHO Mortality Database. Geneva: World Health Organization;2012. cited 2014 Mar 19. Available from: http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/mortality/whodpms/.

7. Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 2012 annual report. Seoul: Korean Neuropsychiatric Association;2013.

8. World Health Organization. Mental health: strengthening mental health promotion. Geneva: World Health Organization;2001.