Image Representation, Credits: Reuters
The number of depressed patients in South Korea reached 790,000 in 2019, 5.9% more than the previous year, and is expected to increase as the pandemic restricts social activities and triggers economic uncertainty.
- IANS
- Last updated:July 15, 2021, 10:27
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South Korea’s ICT ministry said on Thursday that the country plans to invest about $ 26.2 million over the next three years to investigate digital treatment of depression in an attempt to find new ways to help the growing number of people suffering from this mental disorder. The number of depressed patients in South Korea reached 790,000 in 2019, 5.9% more than the previous year, and is expected to increase as the pandemic restricts social activities and triggers economic uncertainty. Recently, digital treatment methods, such as games and virtual reality software, have caught the eye as a possible alternative to treat and prevent mental health disorders without direct physical care.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it has earmarked 14 billion won by 2024 for the research program, while the private sector will invest 14.9 billion won, Yonhap news agency reports.
The research aims to develop a digital service that offers personalized depression diagnoses based on the collection and analysis of user data in real time, as well as a service that offers preventive measures against the disease through the use of smartphones. and other mobile devices.
Experts from a variety of fields, from artificial intelligence to mental health, will be involved in the research, including Kim Hyung-sook, a professor of cognitive science at Hanyang University.
Naver Cloud, the cloud arm of South Korean Internet giant Naver Corp., will also participate in the program to build a cloud infrastructure for digital platforms.
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