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.”
