Dongdaemun-gu Joins Hands with Primary Medical Institutions to Prevent Deaths

Promotion of the 'Primary Medical Institution Life Link Stethoscope Project'... 7 Primary Medical Institutions in the Region Participate... Depression and Suicide Tendency Screening for High-Risk Mortality Groups

Last Year's 'Suicide Prevention Campaign'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Despite ongoing efforts to reduce the suicide rate, South Korea's suicide rate remains among the highest within OECD member countries, necessitating more proactive measures.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) is partnering with seven local medical institutions to implement the "2020 1st Primary Medical Institution Life Connection Stethoscope Project."

This project aims to lower the suicide rate in the community by having primary medical institutions identify patients at risk of suicide and connect them with local welfare resources. This initiative is based on research findings that approximately 50% of individuals who died by suicide had visited a primary medical institution within one month prior to their death.

First, physicians at primary medical institutions conduct assessments for patients deemed at risk of depression and death using △Depression (PHQ-9) △Death propensity (mini-plus) tests.

Subsequently, the dedicated suicide prevention officer at the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center conducts first and second evaluations and counseling based on the test results from the primary medical institutions to determine the level of death risk. Then, support is provided to connect patients with various community welfare resources such as △specialized medical institutions △Dongdaemun-gu Mental Health Welfare Center △Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center Life Keeper Activist Services (care services).

The district plans to encourage greater participation from primary medical institutions by supporting screening and referral costs for high-risk groups at participating medical institutions in the "Life Connection Stethoscope Project."

Inquiries can be made to the Dongdaemun-gu Office Regional Health Division.

You Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “We will identify and support residents at risk of death early through cooperation with primary medical institutions,” and added, “We will continue to provide various supports so that residents can live healthy and happy lives.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.