Editorial: Mental Hospital Doctor Shortage Endangers Families, Communities

The specialist physician filling rate at five national mental hospitals, including Gongju, Naju, Bugok, and Chuncheon Hospitals, stood at only 49% last year. This marked a drop below 50% from 61% in 2019. At Gongju National Hospital, the quota for specialist physicians is 10 people, but only 3 people are currently employed. Due to the shortage of specialists, the average bed occupancy rate at the five national mental hospitals fell to 25% last year. Timely treatment and consistent medication are paramount for mental illnesses. However, as national mental hospitals struggle to function properly in handling severe and emergency mental health cases, the number of emergency patients requiring hospitalization continues to rise. Emergency hospitalization referrals to mental health institutions surged to nearly 20,000 cases last year, nearly quadrupling from around 5,000 cases five years ago. This indicates a sharp increase in patients who pose a high risk of harming themselves or others and require immediate treatment. The growing number of patients in urgent need of care contrasts sharply with the declining availability of mental health professionals and hospital beds—a deeply concerning issue. If even national mental hospitals fail to properly treat severe and emergency cases, patients, their families, and communities face heightened risks. The random stabbing incidents at Sillim Station and Seohyeon Station in 2023 were crimes committed by individuals who had discontinued treatment for mental illnesses. As the number of such patients grows, the vicious cycle of reduced treatment capacity and untreated patients worsens. National mental hospitals reportedly face greater reluctance from medical staff due to lower wages compared to private hospitals and their locations in rural areas. The working environment is further strained as national hospitals accept patients that private institutions avoid. Instead of focusing on cash-handout welfare, the government should prioritize investing in critical issues like mental health patient management. Sufficient fees must be allocated to national hospitals to improve medical environments and secure necessary personnel. It is also essential to consider drastically improving the treatment of medical staff and working conditions for mental health professionals, recognizing mental illnesses as essential severe conditions akin to cancer or cardiovascular diseases.