Mental Health in North Korea

As an urbanite, I enjoy many things about city living, such as walking to quaint, local coffee shops and restaurants, attending cultural events, and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. But even though living in a metropolis can be exciting, there are some downsides. After the outbreak of Corona virus, work from home became the new normal forcing people to stay indoors. Bedroom corners got converted to office cubicles, home Cooks are a on a rise, living and eating healthy are new trends and complete mindset about mental health has changed. 792 million - these were the numbers of people affected by mental issue of varying severity in 2017. This is more than the combined population of countries like Canada and Nepal. Dr. Brock Chisholm the first director of WHO said, “Without mental health, there cannot be true physical health”. 60 years from then, these words appear to be coming true. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in bringing the importance of mental health, especially in urban and metropolitan areas. As “Work from Home” becomes the new normal, depression and anxiety have increased at an alarming rate. A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that mental disorders account for nearly 12% of the global healthcare problems. And to cater to this, DPRK has little or no known medical health professionals. Mental Health is a major concern around the globe and if we talk about DPRK, it is not far behind although development in DPRK seems to be at par with the world. The movement of people from rural areas to urban lands influenced by social, economic, and psychological factors is referred to as Urbanisation. According to the United Nations Population Division, by 2030, a more developed population will move from rural to urban areas; by 2050, two-thirds of its population is likely to be urban. Urbanisation brings together with it a set of pros and cons. Economic growth, better social setting, improvement in the standard of living are the positives but its effect on Mental Health which is often ignored is a major disadvantage. Urbanization affects mental health through channels like polluted environment, high levels of violence, and reduced or no social support. DPRK has a separate way of combating people with mental health issues. Rather than encouraging people to talk openly about it or consult professional help, it sends patients to Psychiatric hospitals called “Ward No. 49”. These centers are located in isolated areas away from the public, keeping the treatment given hidden. These centers are considered as terrible prisons where people are in lockdown and tortured to death. In the DPRK, they do not use the term “mental health”. A person is considered mentally healthy if he is faithful to Kim Jong-un. Statements such as “let us brace ourselves thoroughly for our comrade the great leader Kim Jong-un revolutionary spirit” are considered mentally healthy. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), economic costs due to mental illness amount to 4% of national GDP. However, in a country like DPRK, which aims to become a superpower by investing heavily in nuclear, and arms deals, thinking about mental health is a joke. Although, seeking medical help comes at free but North Koreans tend to hide their mental health issues. World Health Organisation and other international boards have realized the importance of mental health long back. Post COVID-19, these measures have become more stringent. Development of work culture, increase in healthcare workforce and facilities are some of the steps taken. Some organizations have focused on understanding the dynamics of work and mental health. The WHO Quality Rights tool kit provides counties with practical information about this issue. A negative perception of the mental health issues often results in hesitation to seek help, so workshops and seminars are being organized globally to understand its importance. Although all these measures act on a global scale, a fundamental change is needed in the mentality of people. North Koreans have been exchanging presents every year to celebrate the Lunar New Year. But rather than tea, sweets or clothing, some in this impoverished, isolated country are giving the gift of crystal meth. The gifting and use of methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant that has been blamed in health and addiction crises around the world, is said to be a well-established custom in North Korea. For as long as drug use does not pose a challenge to the regime, but instead dulls the wills and minds of the North Korean people, the government tacitly allows it to go on, despite the tremendous mental and physical health challenges it creates. Due to this right from young age, students gets addicted to substance abuse resulting in serious mental problems later. Mental health is as important as physical health, and one shouldn't compromise it at any cost. Some possible solutions to cater this problem are: • Sustainable Healthcare system – to improve the quality of existing medical facilities without harming the needs of future generations. • Community service and the mass media – encouraging people to talk about their issues with family or friends, spreading awareness reading it through mass media mediums. • Opening a two-way communication channel – people should understand mental health is not a disease, it’s curable. • Education – this is needed from the grass root levels. The youth needs to be responsible and take necessary actions to protect the young and the old • Expanding access to green spaces – green corridors, cycle tracks, parks, nature walks must be popularized so that people get a day off from daily hectic routine. • Active design - weekly community gathering for exercise, activities, and sports. The above steps can be applied to all the nation's and not only DPRK. (This article doesn't aim at causing any insult to people of DPRK, their culture, or anybody or anything related to the country. These are my personal views based on a comprehensive research)