Korea Suicide Prevention Hope Foundation and Small Enterprise and Market Service Strengthen Suicide Prevention Cooperation for Small Business Owners

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The Korea Suicide Prevention Hope Foundation (Chairman Hwang Tae-yeon) announced on the 27th that the Small Enterprise and Market Service (Chairman Park Seong-hyo), which operates under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, has agreed to participate in the "Life-Respect Safe Village" project.

The Life-Respect Safe Village (a region-specific suicide prevention project) refers to a community-based suicide prevention safety net in which various organizations and groups at the town, township, and neighborhood levels identify residents at risk of suicide at an early stage and refer or connect them to specialized local institutions such as suicide prevention centers.

This collaboration was established to strengthen the safety net that can respond to the suicide risk among small business owners struggling due to the prolonged economic downturn following COVID-19 and to provide prompt assistance.

In Ulsan Metropolitan City, collaboration between the suicide prevention center and the Small Enterprise and Market Service’s Ulsan North and South Centers has improved accessibility for small business owners in traditional markets by identifying high-risk groups through self-assessment of mental health and suicide risk, and by providing psychological support through mobile counseling services.

Starting in the second half of this year, the scope of cooperation will be expanded to all 78 Small Enterprise Support Centers nationwide, with a focus on identifying and connecting small business owners at high risk of suicide. The foundation also plans to actively carry out related activities, such as suicide prevention education for employees and awareness improvement campaigns.

Chairman Hwang Tae-yeon of the foundation stated, "It is extremely important to identify small business owners exposed to suicide risk in the community at an early stage and provide swift support." He added, "If the Small Enterprise Support Centers, which are closest to small business owners, can identify high-risk groups and connect them to relevant specialized institutions, a thorough suicide prevention safety net at the town, township, and neighborhood levels will be established."

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