Increase in Students Facing Crisis Such as Suicide Risk... "1 in 4 Does Not Receive Secondary Measures"

Secondary Measures for Students at Suicide Risk Reach Only 80.44%
Very Low Secondary Referral Rates to Specialized Agencies in Gyeonggi and Gangwon

Kang Deuk-gu, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] It has been revealed that one out of four elementary, middle, and high school students experiencing emotional crises such as suicide risk do not receive separate secondary measures.

According to the results of the emotional and behavioral characteristics tests of students and the status of measures taken over the past three years, submitted by the Ministry of Education to Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, among the students tested last year, a total of 81,900 students were classified as the "interest group," of which only 61,789 (75.44%) received secondary measures from specialized institutions. Therefore, one out of four students did not receive follow-up measures.

Representative Kang pointed out that the number of students classified as the suicide risk group increased from 16,940 in 2017 to 22,128 last year, but the linkage rate to specialized institutions for treatment and counseling has not changed significantly. Last year, the linkage rate for secondary measures among students in the suicide risk group was only 80.44%.

In most cities and provinces, the linkage rates to specialized institutions for secondary measures for both the interest group and the suicide risk group are similar, but in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, the linkage rates are very low, at around the 50% and 60% levels, respectively.

Representative Kang said, "Considering the overall decrease in the school-age population and the considerable number of students in blind spots not identified through testing, the number of students experiencing emotional difficulties appears to be significantly increasing," and added, "There is a need for systematic and continuous management and support measures for students at high risk of suicide, as well as the establishment of a detailed support system that takes into account characteristics such as school level and region."

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