Nowon-gu Life Cycle Respect for Life Project Achieves Lowest Suicide Rate Results

2022 Suicide Rate 20.4 per 100,000, Lowest Since Life Respect Project Started, Below National and Seoul District Averages... Minseon 8th Term Aims to Reduce Suicides Below 100, Implementing Lifecycle Mental Health Programs... Representative Initiatives Include Life Love School for Youth, University and Youth Agency Collaboration Mental Health Projects, Middle-aged Single-person Network Programs, and Mobile Health Bus for Seniors

Life Love School On Site

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that after 13 years of implementing its life respect project, the district has achieved the lowest suicide rate in the area.

According to Statistics Korea, the number of suicides in Nowon-gu last year was 103. Compared to 2009, when the life respect project was officially launched, this is a decrease of 77 people, and the suicide rate per 100,000 population dropped by 30.4% to 20.4. This figure is lower than the national average of 25.2 as well as the Seoul city average of 21.4.

In 2009, Nowon-gu had 180 suicides, with a suicide rate of 29.3, ranking seventh highest among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts. Since 2010, the district has steadily promoted the life respect project and, under the 8th elected administration, has implemented detailed, life-cycle tailored prevention programs with the goal of reducing the number of suicides to below 100. As a result, last year the suicide rate ranked 16th among Seoul’s districts, marking the lowest suicide rate since the project began.

Key programs include ▲ Life Love School for youth ▲ Establishing cooperative systems with universities and youth organizations ▲ Relationship-building programs for middle-aged single-person households ▲ Operation of a mobile health bus visiting elderly residents.

The ‘Life Love School for youth’ has been continuously conducted since 2012 in response to rising suicide rates and depression among teenagers. This year, 5,045 students from 36 local elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools received education. Professional suicide prevention instructors teach how to reflect on oneself, relieve stress, learn helpful activities, create worry graphs with classmates, and practice how to ask for help in crisis situations, all aimed at protecting mental health.

The ‘Cooperative system with universities and youth organizations’ involves Nowon-gu, Seoul Youth Center Nowon Orang, Youth Job Center Youth Tomorrow, and Work-Life Center collaborating to promote youth mental health and suicide prevention. The district also partners with local universities to conduct mental health campaigns. This is to facilitate early detection of youth at risk of suicide. In addition to life keeper training for suicide prevention, QR codes for mental health checkups are distributed to identify at-risk youth and provide counseling support.

The ‘Relationship-building program for middle-aged single-person households’ targets socially isolated middle-aged individuals living alone. An annual survey of single-person households aged 50 and over assesses mental health. This year, 473 people aged 50 to 64 are being surveyed face-to-face as a principle. Participation in relationship-building programs such as cooking and outings, organized around welfare communities at local resident centers, is encouraged.

For elderly residents with mobility difficulties, the ‘Mobile health bus operation’ is provided. This year, the mental health status of 448 elderly individuals was checked. After screening, they are connected to the Neighbor Love Volunteer Group, and high-risk individuals are supported to receive professional counseling at mental health welfare centers.

A mental health program is also conducted for elderly single-person households living in public rental housing. Through horticultural therapy using companion plants and healing exercises, the mental health of the elderly is cared for.

Meanwhile, since 2010, the district established the nation’s first dedicated suicide prevention team and has been working to lower suicide rates through early detection and systematic management of those at risk. Psychological counselors and the Neighbor Love Volunteer Group manage 2,820 individuals at risk of suicide. Depending on the level of suicide risk, emotional support is provided through 2 to 8 phone calls or visits per month.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The achievement of Nowon-gu’s lowest suicide rate in 2022 is the result of consistently implementing mental health projects since 2010,” adding, “We will continue to execute detailed, life-cycle tailored policies to foster a culture of life respect and create a happy Nowon for all.”

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