[Exclusive] Crisis Among University Students... Junior College Crisis Index Up Sixfold in Two Years

[Mental Health Blind Spot, University ①]

Only 130 out of 403 universities surveyed nationwide

No nationally certified statistics on university student mental health

Junior college suicide attempt rate: 8.7 per 10,000—four times higher

Editor's NoteWhile there are a variety of mental health policies addressing youth suicide, university students—who are positioned between secondary students and adults—remain in a blind spot within the nation’s social safety net. Although student counseling centers at individual universities partly fill this gap, many universities still lack such centers or have insufficient professional staff. There is not even any official national statistics available regarding university student suicides. In the meantime, the suicide attempt rate among university students per 10,000 has increased from 1.6 in 2023 to 1.8 last year, and the mental health crisis is spreading throughout university communities. The Asia Business Daily investigates the current state of college student mental health, the root causes of this crisis, and policy solutions to establish an uninterrupted mental health safety net spanning from primary school to university, in a five-part series.

The mental health of university students is deteriorating due to a combination of factors such as employment difficulties, financial hardship, and social isolation. In particular, conditions for student management are even more challenging at junior colleges compared to general universities. The suicide attempt rate per 10,000 students at junior colleges has increased more than sixfold in two years—about four times higher than at general universities. Even more troubling is the fact that the state is failing to accurately identify these warning signs. While there are 403 universities nationwide, mental health data for students is publicly available for only 130 institutions (32.3%). In other words, two out of every three universities have no data on the state of student mental health. Experts warn, “Without a clear understanding of the actual circumstances, it’s impossible to make effective policy,” and emphasize that university student mental health must not be neglected in the national policy framework.

Junior College Suicide Attempt Rate Rose 6.7 Times in Two Years

On October 1st, The Asia Business Daily, through analysis commissioned to Sungkyunkwan University’s Center for Trauma Psychology and Health, reviewed the National University Student Counseling Center Association’s ‘2025 Survey on University Student Mental Health’. According to this analysis, the suicide attempt rate among junior college students last year was 8.7 per 10,000 students, while it stood at 2.3 for students at four-year general universities.

In particular, the suicide attempt rate among junior college students was 3.8 times higher than among general university students. This indicator has worsened rapidly over the past two years. While the suicide attempt rate per 10,000 students at four-year universities remained unchanged at 2.3 in both 2023 and last year, the rate for junior colleges rose from 1.3 to 8.7 over the same period—a jump of 569.2%. This represents a nearly 6.7-fold increase in two years.

On the ground, junior colleges are witnessing a significant increase in psychological distress and demand for counseling among students. Youngdo Kim, President of the Korea Council for University College Education (and President of Dong-Eui Institute of Technology), said, “The mental health indicators of junior college students have significantly deteriorated compared to general universities, and there is a clear uptick in psychological counseling services at individual schools.” He added, “Junior colleges have a tightly knit advising system, so faculty and students tend to have closer relationships. This allows us to better understand the current struggles of our students, and we are working to strengthen counseling services to help address their concerns.”

However, it is difficult to attribute the crisis among junior college students to a single cause, based solely on the recent numbers. The research team emphasized that, as this analysis was exploratory and based on descriptive statistics by university type, it is not possible to definitively identify the reason for the higher suicide attempt rate among junior college students using the data alone. They noted that a range of factors—including school size, student demographics, employment conditions, and regional circumstances—may have contributed in combination.

Experts point out the need to consider the educational, employment, and personal circumstances facing junior college students. Donghoon Lee, professor at Sungkyunkwan University (President of the Korean Counseling Psychological Association and of the National University Student Counseling Center Association), said, “Due to the short-term, employment-focused structure of junior colleges, students must make career decisions and prepare for jobs from the outset, and this psychological burden is highly concentrated within a short period.” He continued, “In such an environment, initial difficulties in adjustment strongly affect academic persistence, and research indicates that academic stress and emotional distress are significantly associated with dropping out. Many students experience the complex stress of balancing studies and making a living within a short academic program, and these multiple risk factors heighten the possibility of psychological crisis, suggesting that junior college students are particularly vulnerable.”

Crisis Signals Spread Across Campus

Although the mental health challenges appear more pronounced for junior college students, this is not a problem limited to one type of institution. As earlier reporting by The Asia Business Daily revealed, the number of calls to the suicide prevention counseling line ‘SNU Call’ at Seoul National University increased from 914 in 2020 to 1,374 last year, a 50.3% jump, while early intervention cases involving at-risk students rose from 36 to 61 during the same period—a 69.4% increase (see the May 11 report, “Driven to the Edge: 43 Deaths at SNU Over 20 Years”). This indicates that student mental health crises are emerging across universities regardless of type.

The number of universities reporting crisis cases is growing rapidly. The number of universities where suicide attempts were reported increased from 28 in 2023 to 45 last year. Not only have the absolute numbers risen, but the proportion has as well: the percentage of institutions reporting student suicide attempts grew from 28.9% to 34.6% over two years, a 5.7 percentage point increase. Although systems for identifying and counting at-risk students differ by school, it is noteworthy that the proportion of universities reporting such cases is rising.

There is also a significant disparity among institutions. An analysis of the top five universities in terms of suicide attempts showed that the average suicide attempt rate per 10,000 students was 22.1 in 2023 and 18.9 last year. At the school with the most frequent occurrences, the rate was 40.0 in 2023 and 35.7 last year. In contrast, among the universities that responded, no suicide attempt cases were reported at 69 out of 97 schools (71.1%) in 2023 and at 85 out of 130 (65.4%) last year. These figures highlight the extreme gap in crisis indicators among universities.

Only One in Three Schools Conducts Mental Health Surveys

The core issue is that, despite these warning signs, there is virtually no system at the national level to monitor university student mental health. For elementary, middle, and high school students, the Ministry of Education compiles annual statistics on student suicides and implements prevention policies with regional education offices. However, university students—positioned between secondary students and adults—disappear from national statistics altogether. Their status is left up to each university, and the Ministry of Education neither compiles student suicide data specific to universities nor manages official national statistics on the issue. This makes it extremely difficult to even determine the total number of cases.

Currently, the most systematic organization tracking university student mental health is the National University Student Counseling Center Association, which conducts biennial mental health surveys of university counseling centers nationwide, starting in 2023. This is effectively the only dataset that examines student suicide, self-harm, and suicidal ideation across the country. However, just 130 of Korea’s 403 universities (32.3%) participated in the most recent survey. With no official national data collection on university student suicides, the reality is that the mental health status of about two-thirds of all institutions remains unknown.

Similar concerns have been raised abroad. In 2024, Canadian public broadcaster CBC addressed campus mental health issues in the wake of the pandemic, noting that while it obtained related data from 52 major universities, over 70% did not track this data and were not included. Experts at the time pointed out that, without accurate data, it is impossible to grasp the scale of the problem or devise effective prevention measures.

High-Risk Mental Health Group Jumped from 12.7 to 20.7

While university students remain in a statistical blind spot, mental health indicators continue to worsen. According to the National University Student Counseling Center Association, the suicide attempt rate per 10,000 students increased from 1.6 in 2023 to 1.8 last year, and the rate of suicidal thoughts jumped from 12.7 to 20.7 over the same period. The rate of self-harm also rose from 8.1 to 9.4. This means that the number of students in high-risk mental health categories—those at risk before suicide occurs—is rapidly expanding.

Reasons for students seeking counseling shed light on the nature of the crisis. Between 2020 and last year, consultations for ‘emotional problems’ increased by 56.8%, from 227 to 356 cases. Consultations related to ‘academics and career planning’ grew by 23.9%, from 117 to 145 cases. Notably, cases involving interpersonal problems soared by 110.5%, from 38 to 80; family-related issues by 124%, from 25 to 56; and difficulties adjusting to university life skyrocketed by 320%, from 5 to 21. This analysis suggests that not just exam stress, but complex factors like social isolation and challenges adapting to society are at play. Experts say a detailed analysis is needed to determine whether the generation who experienced fewer in-person and community activities during the COVID-19 pandemic is now struggling with forming relationships and adapting to university life.

Professor Lee noted, “Students who visit counseling centers are just the tip of the iceberg. If we consider students who are unable to reach out for support, the actual number in high-risk groups is likely far higher.” He emphasized, “Mental health issues among university students are no longer problems confined to individuals or individual institutions. The most urgent task is for the state to accurately assess the situation and establish at least a basic safety net.”

※ If you or those around you are struggling with depression or other difficult issues, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling by calling the suicide prevention hotline at ☎109 or through the SNS-based counseling service Madeul-Lan (Lan Line Friend Who Listens to Your Mind).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.