Prolonged COVID-19 and "Sick Minds"... Government Strengthens Suicide Prevention Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea has triggered red flags for the nation's mental health, the government has prepared strengthened suicide prevention measures. The core of the plan is to establish a management system that allows continuous self-diagnosis via smartphones and to include high-risk suicide groups in the management target without their consent. The measures also address the rising suicides among students and women in their 20s and 30s since COVID-19.

On the 30th, the government held the 3rd Suicide Prevention Policy Committee at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and prepared the "COVID-19 Response Suicide Prevention Strengthening Measures" containing these details.

In fact, during the second wave of COVID-19 last August, the number of calls to suicide prevention counseling hotlines increased 2.6 times compared to the same period last year, reaching 10,712 calls. Also, from January to July this year, the number of people who attempted suicide increased by 0.2% based on emergency room visits during the same period.

Depression across society has also increased. According to the National Mental Health Survey, the depression score this year was 5.86, more than double the 2.34 points recorded in 2018. The rate of people thinking about suicide has gradually risen from 9.7% in March this year to 10.1% in May and 13.8% in September.

In response, the government has prepared measures according to suicide risk levels for the entire population, vulnerable groups, and high-risk groups. First, to manage depression nationwide, the screening system and psychological support have been strengthened. A foundation has been established to allow continuous mental health self-diagnosis using smartphone apps, and the national health checkup depression test, currently conducted every 10 years, will be changed to allow one test as needed within the 10-year period.

Starting next year, a pilot project will be implemented to provide fees when patients diagnosed with depression at primary medical institutions are referred to mental health welfare centers or psychiatric clinics. Additionally, professional personnel for suicide prevention counseling hotlines will be significantly expanded.

For high-risk groups such as suicide attempters, the government has enabled intervention by including them in case management targets without their explicit consent. In particular, the number of medical institutions conducting post-management for patients visiting emergency rooms due to suicide attempts will increase from the current 67 to 88 next year. Furthermore, a pilot project will be launched next year to apply health insurance fees to related cases so that patients visiting any emergency room nationwide can be linked to post-management institutions.

The "one-stop service" for suicide survivors, including administrative and legal services and mental health treatment support currently implemented in 13 basic local governments, will be gradually expanded nationwide. Institutions frequently visited by high-risk groups such as victims of power harassment, sexual violence, and financial fraud will consider directly deploying counseling personnel.

Mental health management and care support for vulnerable groups will also be further strengthened. If childcare workers, elderly care workers, or workers caring for people with disabilities become infected with COVID-19, "substitute personnel for social welfare facilities" will be deployed to fill care gaps, and the youth safety net team providing tailored services such as counseling, protection, and medical care to at-risk youth will be expanded.

Additionally, among the unemployed and job seekers who need psychological stability, psychological counseling will be supported by linking them from 57 employment centers nationwide to mental health welfare centers. Counseling support for high-risk emotional labor workplaces such as call centers will be strengthened, and the number of occupational trauma centers where workers can receive psychological counseling services will be increased by five to a total of 13 by next year. A "Public-Private Council for Suicide Prevention of Entertainers" will also be newly established to distribute suicide prevention education programs targeting entertainers and managers and to expand confidential psychological counseling.

The government has prepared measures for the increasing suicides among students and women in their 20s and 30s since COVID-19. For students, it has become difficult to identify those experiencing mental health crises at school due to the recent combination of remote and in-person classes, and family conflicts have increased as students spend more time at home.

Accordingly, suicide prevention education for students will increase from 4 hours to 6 hours annually, and life-keeper education will be mandatory for teachers. For parents, information such as "how to communicate with your child" will be shared using online media. To support medically vulnerable and regionally mental health crisis students, a "school visit project" is planned where mental health experts visit schools to provide counseling to parents, teachers, and students.

Regarding women in their 20s and 30s, the government views social isolation due to prolonged social distancing, employment insecurity as economically vulnerable groups, and accumulated caregiving burdens as causes of increased suicides.

Therefore, suicide prevention counseling for women will be strengthened by linking women's and family support institutions such as Women's New Employment Centers and Healthy Family Support Centers with suicide prevention specialized institutions, and psychological and emotional support meetings will be supported through the "Comprehensive Support Program for Women in Crisis in their 20s and 30s."

To prevent social isolation of single-person households, social network support programs will be expanded and operated, while women on unpaid leave and freelancers will be identified and supported, and the internship system for women with career interruptions will also be expanded.

Furthermore, to alleviate the caregiving burden concentrated on women, alternative care functions such as "childcare services" and "community childcare sharing centers" will be expanded, and an equal mutual caregiving culture where men and women care together will be promoted.

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