Perceived mental health service priorities among social service personnel in South Korea: an importance–performance analysis by depression severity

Background This study examined perceptions of the importance and performance of mental health services among young men serving as social service personnel (SSP) in South Korea and explored how service priorities differed according to depression severity. Method Data were obtained from 201 SSPs who participated in the 2025 Mental Health Support Program survey conducted by a national public training institute in South Korea. Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) was employed to assess perceived service importance and performance and to identify service priorities across depression severity groups. Results Most services were concentrated within the high importance, high performance and low-priority quadrants. Core services, including counseling, psychiatric treatment, and suicide prevention, were generally rated highly in terms of both perceived importance and performance. However, IPA patterns varied according to depression severity. Participants with no or minimal depressive symptoms identified peer support respite services as requiring greater attention, whereas those with mild depressive symptoms highlighted youth counseling services as an area for improvement. Participants with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms reported larger gaps between perceived importance and performance for public mental health services, suggesting potential unmet needs among individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusions This study suggests that mental health support for SSP in South Korea should move beyond a uniform, internally focused model toward a coordinated and severity-responsive service framework. Strengthening referral pathways among the Military Manpower Administration, service assignment institutions, and community-based mental health providers may improve access to appropriate, less stigmatizing support and enhance continuity of care.