SOUTH KOREAN SUICIDE PREVENTION: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STRATEGIES

Authors

  • Douglas David Klein Faculty, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ, USA
  • June Yun Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

Keywords:

South Korea Suicide Rates, Suicide Prevention Programs in South Korea, Mental Health Treatment in South Korea, Media Guidelines of Suicide Coverage in South Korea, Social Media Suicide Prevention for Teens in South Korea, Suicide Rates and Senior Citizens in South Korea

Abstract

South Korea has the second-highest suicide rate in the world, with 20 deaths per 100,000 according to the World Health Organization. With 5% of South Korean deaths attributed to suicide annually, the distribution is across every age cohort, from children to teens, to young workers, to the middle-aged, to senior citizens. A South Korean aged 70 and higher is 3 times as likely to commit suicide than the global average. This paper will research suicide prevention programs implemented by both governmental and non-governmental organizations before and during the COVID pandemic which address the country’s high rate of suicidal behaviors. These include training for warning signs, social media campaigns targeting young people, preventing the sale of materials that have been used to commit suicides, and guidelines on how suicides should be reported by the media. South Korean individuals and organizations have created psychological support groups and encourage intervention to reduce mental distress. This paper will also address theories explaining the particularly high suicide rates of South Koreans in different age cohorts. Finally, this paper will study the effectiveness of existing suicide prevention policies in South Korea and recommend actions that should be strengthened in the future.

References

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Published

2021-07-29