Mark Manson, an American bestselling author and famous YouTuber, has made headlines by posting a video that he “traveled to the world’s most depressing country” after visiting Korea. Manson, a best-selling author who has written famous self-development books such as “The Art of Turning Off Nervousness,” is a YouTube creator with 1.44 million subscribers.
Manson recently released a 24-minute video on his YouTube channel under the theme of “Traveling to the World’s Depressing Country.” During his visit to Korea, Manson met with Americans, psychologists, and psychiatrists living in Korea to look into depression in Korean society.
People are depressed in Korea, not that it is depressing to visit.
…wait.
And even then Korea doesn’t even break the top 10 in suicide per capita. Having more diagnosed depression is hardly a worthwhile stat when that depends more on the availability of doctors and psychologist to make the diagnosis.
I mean they’re still pretty high on the list.
Committing suicide can be more taboo in some cultures. Even across different subcultures within countries.
It’s a good metric for comparison, but it’s not perfect.
Korea is 12th, behind lots of impoverished sub-Saharan African nations with incredible levels of corruption and anti-LGBT attitudes. Russia is just above Korea, and not much in the Global North outside of former Soviet bloc countries until the US in 31st, with its high rate of gun ownership making suicide a very easy prospect.
Which country do you think is the most depressing? As its defined in the article, i.e. the nation causing the most depression? My bet is every single nation above Korea is vastly more depressing and people only care about and think Korea is exceptional because it is much closer to our western Nations.
What I think is irrelevant with regards to your question.
Korea should be exceptional because it is developed yet has a high level of suicide and depression.
Sure, but I take great offense at the hyperbole in the headline and core of the article. I hate when media takes pity on the rich kid with problems and act like they’re the world’s biggest. When the poor kid has it worse but no one gives a shit.
Suicide isn’t the only expression of depression.