"Setting a Model for Suicide Prevention"... Gijang County in Busan Wins Minister of Health and Welfare Award for Life-Respect Safe Village
Selected as an Outstanding Case Among 139 Projects
Gijang County's Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Network Gains Attention
The "Life-Respect Safe Village" initiative promoted by Gijang County in Busan has been officially recognized by the government as an exemplary case of suicide prevention.
On August 7, Gijang County announced that its project was selected as an outstanding case in the Life-Respect Safe Village category in the "2024 Local Government Suicide Prevention Best Practices Contest," and will receive the Minister of Health and Welfare Award.
This contest, jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Life Respect and Hope Foundation, evaluated a total of 139 local government projects across the country based on comprehensive performance, effectiveness, and sustainability.
The "Life-Respect Safe Village" project, jointly promoted by the Gijang County Public Health Center and the Gijang County Mental Health Welfare Center, received the main award, with its excellence recognized externally.
The "Life-Respect Safe Village" initiative aims to build a comprehensive suicide prevention safety net at the village level by utilizing community resources. In the first year of the project, centered on Jeonggwan-eup and Ilgwang-eup, a total of 46 organizations?including those in healthcare, education, welfare, distribution, and public institutions?participated and played the role of community-based life guardians.
From this year, which marks the second year of the project, Gijang County is expanding the scope of the initiative by recruiting additional participating organizations and strengthening the system for identifying high-risk groups. The county plans to designate all towns and townships as Life-Respect Safe Villages by 2027. Through these efforts, it aims to improve access to mental health services and actively reduce the local suicide rate.
Hot Picks Today
!["Rather Than Endure a 1.5 Million KRW Stipend, I'd Rather Earn 500 Million in the U.S." Top Talent from SNU and KAIST Are Leaving [Scientists Are Disappearing] ①](https://cwcontent.asiae.co.kr/asiaresize/93/2026051914165468840_1779167814.png)
"Rather Than Endure a 1.5 Million KRW Stipend, I'd Rather Earn 500 Million in the U.S." Top Talent from SNU and KAIST Are Leaving [Scientists Are Disappearing] ①
- "Not Jealous of Winning the Lottery"... Entire Village Stunned as 200 Million Won Jackpot of Wild Ginseng Cluster Discovered at Jirisan
- "I'll Stop by Starbucks Tomorrow": People Power Chungbuk Committee and Geoje Mayoral Candidate Face Criticism for Alleged 5·18 Demeaning Remarks
- Iranian Military: "Ceasefire Was an Opportunity to Strengthen Forces...We Treated It Like Wartime"
- "How Did an Employee Who Loved Samsung End Up Like This?"... Past Video of Samsung Electronics Union Chairman Resurfaces
County Governor Jung Jongbok emphasized, "This award is the result of collaboration between the public sector, private organizations, and the local community," adding, "We will continue to provide active support so that Gijang County can become a city safe from suicide."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
