Young Investors Face Mental Health Crisis as Markets Sour

As stock prices have swung wildly recently, an increasing number of investors in their 20s and 30s are voicing severe mental distress caused by investment losses. Choi, a 26-year-old job seeker, invested in Samsung Electronics but saw the value drop by over 100,000 won below his purchase price; he reported psychological anxiety and constantly checked stock quotes even during work hours. Lee, a 31-year-old office worker, bought SK Hynix shares while the price was rising but later suffered from insomnia and psychological distress as the stock declined.

Park Jong-seok, a psychiatrist, revealed that whereas daily visits averaged four to five patients last June, the daily average has now risen to about 11 patients seeking help for stock-related issues. According to Dr. Park, the proportion of young people (aged 20s and 30s) among visiting patients surged from under 15% in the past to around 55% currently.

Dr. Park explained that investors may feel anxious as they experience a bear market for the first time. "In cases of significant loss, symptoms such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression can appear," he said. Yoon Dae-hyun, a professor of psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital, also analyzed that "the sense of loss regarding expectations leads to stress, which is further intensified for those who used leverage or have debt."

Dr. Park suggested coping mechanisms, such as deleting stock apps and turning off notifications, or observing a 'cooling-off rule' where investors review their decisions 24 hours after feeling an urge to buy. He also advised reducing social exposure by distancing oneself from online communities or social media. Professor Yoon added, "If emotional reactions to losses are intense, it is better to consider relatively stable investments, such as bonds."