Sulli was a rare ambassador for mental health in Asia – K-pop star’s death a reminder of the need to talk about how we feel
The lack of open conversation about psychological disorders is damaging those who suffer, says an University of Edinburgh clinical psychologist
For the recent World Mental Health Day, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and Britain’s Prince Harry paired up to encourage people to check in with family and friends, and talk about how they’re feeling. Celebrities from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ryan Reynolds to Demi Lovato and Billie Eilish have opened up about their struggles with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and more.
But it’s not enough. Talking about psychiatric disorders is still taboo in much of the world, or treated as abnormal. South Korea is regularly named as having one of the highest suicide rates globally, and yet the topic is not commonly discussed.
K-pop singer Sulli, formerly of girl group f(x), was found dead in her home this week. For years she had suffered from panic disorders, and is said by authorities investigating her death to have been suffering from “severe depression”.
She was a rarity in the South Korean entertainment industry, known for being outspoken, and publicly commenting on being cyberbullied and her mental health struggles.
Despite the wealth of research, and the increasing availability of resources for those suffering from mental illness, talking about it is still often frowned upon, or worse - and that’s not helping sufferers. Dr Stella W. Y. Chan, a lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, said this needs to change, and the stigma needs to be removed.