SEOUL (ANN/KOREA HERALD) – The Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced a comprehensive new set of measures aimed at reducing its suicide rate by 50 per cent by 2030. Key actions include expanding the staff at its 24-hour call center for individuals experiencing suicidal impulses and broadening the scope of its mental health policies to support the wider public.
“We aim to shift our policy focus to empower citizens in maintaining mental wellness in daily life,” said Kim Tae-hee, head of the city’s Citizens’ Health Bureau, during a press briefing on Monday. “Our proactive approach seeks to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation and to prevent suicidal thoughts from arising.”
Last year, Seoul reported a suicide rate of 23.2 per 100,000 residents, the highest since 2015. Kim noted that about half of Seoul’s population currently considers themselves psychologically troubled, and the proportion experiencing depression has risen by nearly 2 per cent over the last five years.
Seoul’s suicide rate, when adjusted for age based on OECD standards, was found to be 1.8 times higher than South Korea’s national average.
Under the new strategy, the city government plans to nearly triple the number of staff at its Maumeium Counseling Telephone, a 24-hour hotline for those struggling with suicidal impulses, increasing staff from 12 to 30 by 2026. Additional support channels, including KakaoTalk, text messaging, and a chatbot system, are also planned.
To support individuals seeking private mental health services, the government will offer subsidies of up to 80,000 won per session over eight weeks, starting with 20,000 residents this year and aiming to reach 100,000 by 2027.
By 2026, the government intends to open city-run counseling centers across all 27 districts in Seoul. These centers, staffed by mental health specialists and psychologists, will provide initial mental health consultations and, when necessary, refer individuals to private services. Currently, services will be offered in Korean only.
Seoul will also introduce a “community-based” program in high-risk areas, enlisting local leaders, neighborhood doctors, and shop owners to identify individuals in need and guide them toward counseling services. This initiative will focus on neighborhoods with high suicide rates, single-person households, and areas affected by alcoholism.
The government is also forming the Seoul City Suicide Prevention Committee, which will monitor suicide-related data, conduct psychological autopsies, and develop a prevention manual for city officials to help identify and assist at-risk individuals.
