Increases in suicide represent the new big issue emerging in New York's Korean community. Due to the long-term economic depression and attendant difficulties of immigrant life, some Koreans are resorting to taking their own lives; in some cases, entire families have committed suicide together. Yet, despite these terrible events, there are but a few nonprofit treatment facilities for Koreans.

People suffering from mental illness require professional consultations and diagnoses. In the case of many Koreans, English-language problems and financial difficulties often prevent those who need treatment from seeking it. In New York, there are only three non-profit medical treatment facilities for Koreans suffering from mental illness or related conditions. Although a Korean can find a center and schedule an appointment, the number of counselors or aides is small. Because of insufficient staffing, cases are prioritized. This can mean that a person in need of help people might have to wait up to three months to be seen. During this time, symptoms can worsen. People frequently give up on their appointments or treatments.

Mr. Song-min Yoon, the vice director at the Asian outreach clinic in the New York Child Center, said, "Among our 19 counselors, only five are Korean. Each Korean counselor can have a caseload of up to 40 clients. If someone's symptoms are serious, they can be seen quickly. But we have clients who have waited for six months before they could be seen." He emphasized, "Recently, the number of suicides among Koreans has gone up. We urgently need more locations and staff to treat Koreans."

The Korea Times recently surveyed Korean funeral parlors in New York and New Jersey and discovered that in a four-month period there were 22 Korean suicides. Many people see the economic depression as a contributing factor. In New York City, nonprofit mental health treatment facilities for Koreans, with services available in Korean, include the Hamilton Madison House, the New York Child Center's Asian Clinic, and the New York Family Counseling Center.

In addition, hospitals like Flushing General, Elmhurst Memorial, and Creedmoor are available to receive Korean patients; however, associated treatment costs at these locations are high, and this prevents the majority of Koreans from seeking or continuing treatment. To avoid the long waits at the nonprofit centers, people will schedule appointments directly with mental health specialists, but often cannot sustain these services over time due to the high fees for counseling or medication. Financial constraints all but force them to return to the public nonprofit centers and the long waiting lists.

For example, a single counseling session with a mental health professional can cost between $150 and $200 at hospitals in the New York area. Combined with the cost of medications, patient outlays can climb to several thousand dollars in just a few months. People in low-income brackets, on government provided health plans, etc. can receive treatment at a very low cost from nonprofit organizations. For information, contact a center directly.