S. Koreans aged 20 to 34 to get mental health check-ups every 2 years

Nearly 40,000 South Koreans took their own lives over the past three years, with the suicide rate increasing among younger people. - AFP

SEOUL: South Korea on Dec 5 rolled out a comprehensive plan to offer mental health check-ups every two years for young Koreans aged 20 to 34 and other counselling services tailored to all age groups, in the first detailed state policy aimed at tackling the country’s consistently high suicide rates.

Korea has recorded the highest suicide rate among member nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for almost 20 years, with 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, more than double the OECD average of 10.6 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the organisation’s data released in September.