South Korea is one of the most developed countries in the world, but it also has one of the fastest-growing numbers of mentally ill people and one of the highest suicide rates in the world. This is due to the extremely rapid economic development, which has severely deteriorated the mental health of the population. Korean society has a very negative attitude towards mental health problems – mental disorders are highly stigmatized and the mentally ill are victims of discrimination and negative prejudices, which is why Koreans do not talk about mental distress and do not seek the necessary psychological help. The aim of this thesis is to spread awareness about the issue of mental health problems in Korea, the negative attitude of Korean society towards the mentally ill, the low utilization of professional help and to identify factors influencing Korean people’s attitude toward mental health. The issue of mental health among young people in their twenties is also highlighted. Understanding the influence of various factors on the viewpoint of Koreans is crucial for improving attitudes towards mental health problems and improving the mental health of the population. I identified twelve factors: culture, collectivism, Asian cultural values, religion, stigma, level of education, gender, mental health literacy, family and friends, age, socioeconomic status, and media. These factors should be taken into account when developing educational programs for the Korean public. The thesis also provides suggestions for improving Korean’s attitudes towards mental disorders and the mentally ill.
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