Low-dimensional and optimised representations of high-level information in the expert brain.

The suicide rate in South Korea (24.1% in 2020) exceeds the OECD country average (11.3% in 2020) by more than twice and has consistently vied for the top position with Lithuania over the past two decades, rendering it a highly concerning issue []. Particularly alarming is the recent substantial increase in self-harm and suicide rates among teenagers and individuals in their twenties [], highlighting the nation’s growing mental health burden. Amid this backdrop, concerns regarding potential violations of patient rights during involuntary psychiatric hospitalization led to a comprehensive legislative overhaul through the enforcement of the revised Mental Health Promotion and Welfare Act (hereinafter “the revised Act”) on May 30, 2017. This reform was prompted by a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling that declared certain provisions of the previous law unconstitutional []. The revised Act significantly strengthened the criteria for involuntary admission in order to protect patient autonomy. It mandated that involuntary hospitalizations extending beyond two weeks require evaluations by two independent psychiatrists affiliated with public or designated institutions. Furthermore, it narrowed the legal definition of mental illness to include only individuals with substantial impairments in daily functioning due to delusions, hallucinations, or mood and thought disorders. Several countries have reported ongoing debate regarding stricter regulations for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Although these reforms were intended to strengthen patient autonomy and protect civil rights, concerns have been raised about unintended consequences, including delayed access to psychiatric treatment for high-risk individuals. Previous studies have suggested that mental health laws requiring evidence of dangerousness before involuntary admission may prolong the duration of untreated psychiatric illness and worsen clinical outcomes, including suicide risk []. International comparative studies have also highlighted persistent tension between protecting patient rights and ensuring timely access to emergency psychiatric care []. Similar concerns have been raised in Korea following the 2017 revision of the Mental Health Promotion and Welfare Act, particularly regarding barriers to early intervention for patients with acute psychiatric crises.