Nowon-gu Launches 'Saengmyeong Sarang School' to Protect Youth at Risk of Suicide

Last Year, Youth Suicides Under 19 Nationwide Increased by 7%... From April 2, ‘2021 Youth Life-Love School’ Operated for 7,870 Students at 40 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in the Region

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will operate the ‘2021 Youth Life Love School’ from April 2 to prevent the increasing youth suicides due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

This program, which will run until November, involves a total of 40 elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools in the area. The district plans to dispatch suicide prevention education specialists to each school to provide education to 7,870 youths.

According to Statistics Korea, the number of suicides among teenagers nationwide last year was 230, a 15% increase compared to 200 in 2019. This is the result of social turmoil caused by COVID-19 negatively affecting the mental health of youths.

The Life Love School program was prepared for youths who are considering or attempting suicide due to disruptions in academic activities and peer relationships caused by the spread of COVID-19 or worsening family economic conditions.

The instructors are experts who have completed related training courses at the Central Suicide Prevention Center and Seoul Suicide Prevention Center, and have experience in student counseling volunteer work and communication counseling at institutions such as the Office of Education.

The educational content includes ▲My worries! Your worries! ▲OX quiz on youth suicide ▲Current status and reality of youth suicide ▲Difficulties in personal worries and solutions ▲Watching videos related to respect for life and sharing impressions ▲Training on appropriate recognition, emotions, behaviors, and resource utilization in emergency situations.

Classes will be conducted face-to-face but may be replaced with broadcast lessons depending on the COVID-19 situation. Students expressing feelings of depression or mental difficulties during class will be connected to their homeroom teachers for continuous counseling.

Last year, despite school operations not being normal due to COVID-19, the district conducted suicide prevention education for 2,202 students in 92 classes across 11 schools.

Additionally, non-face-to-face suicide prevention education for youths and people in their 20s and 30s is being operated through the YouTube channel ‘Nowon Life Respect TV’ and Facebook.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “While the overall suicide rate in Nowon-gu decreased last year, it was regrettable that the suicide rates among teenagers and people in their 20s increased. We will continue to promote various policies to reduce youth suicide rates in the future.”

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