Health Ministry and 17 Local Governments to Rapidly Identify High-Risk Suicide Groups

On-site Suicide Prevention Consulting for Local Governments
Expanded from Once to Four Times a Month

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on August 6 that it had discussed measures to strengthen customized on-site consulting aimed at enhancing regional suicide prevention response capabilities, together with public health directors from 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the current status of suicide prevention initiatives being implemented by each local government. They also discussed directions for promoting customized suicide prevention projects tailored to each municipality, strategies to activate participation from private-sector life guardians and residents, and methods to swiftly identify high-risk groups in the community, such as those experiencing increased social isolation since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local governments shared information about their suicide prevention plans, which were developed in consideration of regional characteristics. In addition, they explored ways to strengthen the connection between health and welfare services and to increase the interest and involvement of city, provincial, and district leaders in suicide prevention policies. The discussion also covered practical, field-oriented suicide prevention cases, such as expanding local mental health counseling hotlines, implementing customized suicide prevention projects for each stage of life, collaborating with the University Professors' Association on university student life guardian programs, providing one-on-one tailored mentoring for elderly suicide prevention, using drones to enhance suicide prevention on large bridges, conducting mobile suicide prevention education, and supporting healing camps for suicide survivors.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is providing additional national funding to 55 cities, counties, and districts through the second supplementary budget. Currently, in a total of 14 cities and provinces and 79 cities, counties, and districts, private organizations at the township, town, and neighborhood level (such as pharmacies, hospitals, and religious groups), as well as local leaders, women's associations, and merchant associations, are serving as life guardians. They are supporting suicide prevention activities such as identifying and assisting high-risk groups, improving public awareness, providing home visits and companionship services, inspecting locations with high suicide rates, and blocking access to suicide means.

Furthermore, starting in July, the Ministry increased the frequency of in-person meetings and consulting sessions with local governments from once a month to four times a month, in order to help more municipalities develop customized suicide prevention measures. These consulting sessions involve local government leaders, related institutions, private organizations, and community groups, who work together to develop and implement plans to address suicide issues in their regions.

According to the Ministry, in recent consulting sessions, more than 20 organizations that make up the local community?including heads of local governments, public health centers, mental health welfare centers, police stations, fire stations, local hospitals, social welfare centers, and family centers?actively participated in heated discussions and worked together to establish region-specific strategies.

Jung Yoonsoon, Director General for Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "Suicide prevention is an urgent issue that our entire society must address together. I urge each local government to treat suicide prevention as a top priority and to focus all administrative resources on this effort." She added, "We will continue to actively support local governments' efforts by expanding suicide prevention infrastructure, identifying high-risk groups early, and strengthening customized support."

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