Seocho-gu, the Secret Behind the Lowest Suicide Rate in Seoul for Two Consecutive Years

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population in Seoul Increases by 8.2%
Seocho-gu Decreases by 2.6% Compared to Previous Year
Community-Linked Crisis Intervention System Established

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) has established itself as a model district for suicide prevention by recording the lowest suicide rate in Seoul for two consecutive years.

According to Seocho-gu, based on Statistics Korea data from October, last year the suicide rate in Seocho-gu was 16.7 per 100,000 people, the lowest among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts. While the national and Seoul suicide rates increased by 8.5% and 8.2% respectively compared to the previous year, Seocho-gu saw a 2.6% decrease.

The district attributes this achievement to early identification of high-risk groups and a tailored support system. Collaborating with local communities including the police, medical institutions, and mental health welfare centers, Seocho-gu holds monthly emergency medicine cooperation meetings and quarterly mental emergency response council meetings to quickly identify and support high-risk suicide groups. Through this cooperation, a system is in place to immediately dispatch teams to the scene and respond swiftly in crisis situations.

At the same time, a crisis intervention system providing immediate psychological counseling and treatment has been established. High-risk suicide groups are continuously managed through registration and monitoring, and when necessary, comprehensive economic, legal, and medical support is provided in cooperation with related agencies. Seocho-gu explains that thanks to this system, residents in crisis can receive prompt help, resulting in tangible suicide prevention effects.

Suicide prevention campaign scene. Provided by Seocho-gu.

The district widely promotes the importance of suicide prevention to residents through life-respecting education and local campaigns. Last year, training was conducted for 1,611 new life keepers (Gate-Keepers). Additionally, to reduce access to means of suicide, 12 stores in the area have been designated and operated as ‘Hope Sales Stores.’ These stores do not display but securely store hazardous items related to suicide, such as charcoal briquettes (commonly known as lightning charcoal). Sellers verify the intended use at the time of purchase and are encouraged to immediately report to relevant authorities if any warning signs are detected.

This year, Seocho-gu expanded the mental health service for the 20s and 30s age group called ‘Mind Convenience Store’ to seven branches to facilitate early detection of high-risk suicide groups. By next year, five ‘Mind Goshiwon’ facilities will be designated and operated for vulnerable groups and single-person households to improve accessibility to suicide prevention and psychological counseling, enabling early detection and active support for at-risk individuals.

Mayor Jeon Seong-su stated, "Seocho-gu’s ability to record the lowest suicide rate in Seoul is thanks to the cooperation of residents and the local community," adding, "We will continue to lead suicide prevention efforts and strive to protect the lives and mental health of our residents."

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