Jeonju Area Taxi Drivers, Lifesavers for Citizens at Risk of Suicide!

Jeonju City and Jeonju Mental Health Welfare Center Designate Over 150 Uri and Seongsim Taxis as Life-Loving Safe Taxis

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Taxi drivers in the Jeonju area have decided to become guardians for citizens showing signs of suicide risk.

Jeonju City and the Jeonju City Mental Health Welfare Center (Director Park Tae-won) announced on the 8th that they designated about 150 taxis belonging to Woori Taxi Jeonju Cooperative and Seongsim Taxi as "Life-Loving Safe Taxis" and agreed to cooperate in fostering a culture of respect for life.

Jeonju City and the Center designated the Safe Taxis through life guardian training with the purpose of having taxi drivers detect suicide risks among passengers and establish a safety net for high-risk suicide groups.

From now on, Safe Taxi drivers will connect suicide crisis individuals who express extreme statements or complain of depression and mental distress during conversations while driving to professional help such as counseling hotlines.

Also, inside the passenger seats of taxis designated as "Life-Loving Safe Taxis," stickers with mental health crisis counseling phone numbers will be attached, and suicide prevention leaflets will be kept on hand at all times.

Kim Ji-hoon, director of Woori Taxi Jeonju Cooperative, said, "I am glad to be able to provide help to passengers showing signs of suicide through connections with professional organizations amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "As a taxi driver, I will do my best to utilize my capabilities to the fullest to build a safety net."

In this regard, Jeonju City and the Center have designated the period from the 6th to the 10th as Suicide Prevention Week in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and are conducting the "Life-Loving Safe Taxi Campaign," installing promotional flags on about 150 taxis and running them around.

For other detailed information related to the "Life-Loving Safe Taxi," inquiries can be made to the Jeonju City Mental Health Welfare Center.

Jeonju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

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