Saturday, February 8, 2025

The Power of Honesty: Celebrity Stories Boost Mental Health Diagnoses

Yonhap News

In the past, people often avoided visiting hospitals for mental illnesses due to concerns about public perception and prejudice against psychiatric treatment. However, recently, a growing number of individuals are visiting hospitals to receive treatment for mental illnesses.

On July 11, a research team from the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul Asan Hospital led by Professors Shin Yong Uk and Jo Min Woo from the Department of Preventive Medicine announced that public disclosures of mental health treatment by celebrities played a significant role in changing societal perceptions.

The research team analyzed the diagnosis rate of panic disorder over 17 years since 2004 and found that the monthly average of new diagnoses increased by approximately 9.4 times after a celebrity confessed to struggling with the condition in 2010.

The confession by celebrities about receiving psychiatric treatment has raised social awareness about mental illness and alleviated prejudices. As a result, it’s interpreted that patients suffering from similar conditions have been encouraged to seek professional help and treatment.

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and extreme anxiety symptoms, known as panic attacks, that appear unexpectedly without any particular reason. Symptoms include a sudden fear of death, feeling suffocated or short of breath, sweating, and trembling of hands and feet. These panic attack symptoms occur repeatedly over a short period.

If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, the condition can worsen with the onset of depression or agoraphobia. Therefore, it’s crucial to seek a psychiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment if symptoms are present.

The research team analyzed the new diagnosis rate per 100,000 people for panic disorder based on National Health Insurance Service data, covering the entire South Korean population from January 2004 to December 2021.

The team used December 2010 as a benchmark to analyze the influence of celebrity disclosures. This was when a popular actor who starred in several films and dramas revealed his struggle with panic disorder in an interview. Following this, in October 2011 and January 2012, a famous singer and comedian also confessed to suffering from panic disorder, increasing public interest in the condition.

The results showed that the monthly average new diagnosis rate for panic disorder was 5.4 per 100,000 people before the celebrity’s confession (from January 2004 to November 2010). However, this rate increased to 6.5 per 100,000 people in December 2010, immediately after the confession. The rate continued to increase sharply to 8.4 in January and February 2011, 18.0 in March, and 26.0 in April.

The difference by year was also significant. Between 2004 and 2010, the annual average new diagnosis rate of panic disorder was about 65 per 100,000 people. However, after the celebrity’s confession, the annual average new diagnosis rate steadily increased, reaching 610 per 100,000 people in 2021. This represents a 9.4-fold increase compared to 17 years ago.

Shin said, “By courageously sharing their honest and sincere struggles with mental illness, celebrities have inspired those who have been suffering from anxiety and panic symptoms, previously unaware of their condition, or feared social stigma, to seek help.”

Shin added, “While there is still societal prejudice against mental illness, including panic disorder, many mental illnesses do not significantly affect daily life if properly diagnosed and treated. If you’re struggling with similar symptoms, I encourage you to seek help from a specialist as soon as possible.”

Hot this week

After the Holidays, Beware: Intense Workouts Could Accelerate Aging

Excessive exercise can increase reactive oxygen species, accelerating aging, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help counteract this effect.

Nvidia Surges 5.4%, While Tesla Drops 3.6% in Latest Market Moves

Wall Street sees gains with Nvidia soaring while Tesla and Alphabet stocks tumble amid tariff concerns and disappointing earnings.

Michael Jordan’s Son Arrested for Drunk Driving and Drug Possession in Florida

Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, was arrested for DUI and cocaine possession after fleeing police in Florida.

Goldman Sachs Sees Little Disruption in Energy Prices from Tariffs on U.S. Goods

Goldman Sachs forecasts minimal impact on energy prices from China's tariffs on U.S. goods and Canadian crude oil this year.

Health Crisis Hits Former Chancellor Schröder as He Misses Key Nord Stream Testimony

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is hospitalized for burnout symptoms amid investigations into his role in the Nord Stream project.

Topics

After the Holidays, Beware: Intense Workouts Could Accelerate Aging

Excessive exercise can increase reactive oxygen species, accelerating aging, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help counteract this effect.

Nvidia Surges 5.4%, While Tesla Drops 3.6% in Latest Market Moves

Wall Street sees gains with Nvidia soaring while Tesla and Alphabet stocks tumble amid tariff concerns and disappointing earnings.

Michael Jordan’s Son Arrested for Drunk Driving and Drug Possession in Florida

Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, was arrested for DUI and cocaine possession after fleeing police in Florida.

Goldman Sachs Sees Little Disruption in Energy Prices from Tariffs on U.S. Goods

Goldman Sachs forecasts minimal impact on energy prices from China's tariffs on U.S. goods and Canadian crude oil this year.

Health Crisis Hits Former Chancellor Schröder as He Misses Key Nord Stream Testimony

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is hospitalized for burnout symptoms amid investigations into his role in the Nord Stream project.

Trade War Fears Subside as Wall Street Makes Strong Comeback

Wall Street bounced back after a three-day slump, driven by tech stocks and optimism over trade negotiations despite ongoing tariff concerns.

U.S. Keeps Close Watch on Korean Immigrants Amid Deportation Concerns

The U.S. State Department is providing consular assistance to Korean nationals arrested during Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Anthropic’s New AI Tool Blocks Jailbreaks and Harmful Content

AI companies enhance censorship to prevent "jailbreaking," with Anthropic introducing a constitutional classifier to block harmful content.

Related Articles