Seoul City Announces Comprehensive 'Suicide Prevention' Measures... Counseling Fees Supported at District Counseling Centers

Seoul City plans to address the increasingly serious issue of suicide by expanding 24-hour counseling services and establishing specialized counseling centers in each autonomous district. In particular, areas with high suicide rates will be managed separately, and support for counseling fees will be provided so that any citizen can receive professional counseling.

On the 28th, Seoul City announced a "Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Plan" with the goal of reducing the suicide rate among Seoul citizens by more than 50% by 2030, bringing it down to the OECD average level.

Detailed plan of the 'Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Plan' announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 28th. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]

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This decision is based on the fact that the suicide rate soared to 23.2 per 100,000 Seoul citizens last year, a level that can no longer be ignored. Since 2015, it has been found that one in two Seoul citizens believes they have mental health issues.

The measures announced by Seoul City on this day are also follow-up actions to the "Isolation and Withdrawal Comprehensive Measures" announced by Mayor Oh Se-hoon on the 21st. The core is to implement proactive and strong prevention measures based on ▲ daily mental care ▲ community-led initiatives ▲ and citizen participation, so that people do not even consider suicide.

First, to help citizens care for their mental health in daily life before they transition into high-risk suicide groups, the counseling infrastructure will be expanded. The 24-hour telephone counseling service will be expanded, and at least one "Mind Counseling Center" will be established in each autonomous district to allow visits at any time.

The number of counseling staff for the 24-hour suicide prevention counseling "Mind Connection" hotline will be increased from the current 12 to 30 by 2026. This measure takes into account the fact that suicide prevention counseling typically involves long phone calls, making it difficult for a limited number of counselors to handle all callers.

A support system will also be established so that any citizen can receive professional psychological counseling from the private sector. This is to prevent mild depression and anxiety from escalating into high suicide risk. Starting with 20,000 people this year, the target will be expanded annually, and from 2027, counseling will be provided to 100,000 people each year. Counseling will be provided once a week (for at least 50 minutes) over a total of 8 weeks, with a support amount of 80,000 KRW per session per person.

Customized support by region will also be implemented. The "Seoul-type Suicide Prevention Integrated Model" is a representative example, which promotes the identification and support of high-risk suicide groups at the neighborhood (dong) level. This includes mental health checkups conducted by psychiatric medical institutions and support for counseling fees. Especially in areas with high suicide rates, such as neighborhoods densely populated by single-person households or areas with many alcoholic middle-aged residents, these will be designated as "Donghaengchon Life Respect Villages" (tentative name), where local clinics, shops, and community leaders will care for these individuals.

Tailored suicide prevention projects will be carried out across the life cycle from youth to seniors. To prevent the recent surge in suicides among middle-aged and elderly populations, the focus will be on rapid identification of high-risk groups and strengthening networks with local residents to reduce loneliness.

In addition, Seoul City will establish the "Seoul Suicide Prevention Committee," which will serve as a control tower for suicide prevention policies, undertaking various statistical analyses, strengthening psychological autopsies, and forming dedicated teams in each autonomous district to build a safety net. Kim Tae-hee, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, said, "Suicide is not an individual problem but a social responsibility caused by complex factors. We must approach it accordingly. Through proactive support and mental care for citizens experiencing early depression and isolation, we will realize a Seoul without loneliness and continuously reduce the suicide rate among Seoul citizens."

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