Yangcheon-gu held a joint public-private suicide prevention strategy meeting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday afternoon at the Yangcheon Digital Media Center on the third floor of the district office.
The meeting was organized to strengthen cooperative suicide prevention frameworks among the ministry, mental health institutions and private organizations, as the need for a community-wide response to suicide has grown.
About 20 organizations attended, including Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae, Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Yangcheon-gu Public Health Center and the Yangcheon-gu Mental Health and Welfare Center, along with representatives from other suicide prevention agencies and civic groups.
Participants focused on developing a joint public-private action plan tailored to local conditions, covering early identification of high-risk individuals, crisis intervention and stronger coordination among agencies. Discussions also centered on raising public awareness to foster a culture of respect for life, and on expanding the "life guardian" program — a network that identifies early warning signs of suicide risk and connects individuals to professional services — to build a more robust community mental health safety net.
Yangcheon-gu said it will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, mental health institutions and community organizations to strengthen an integrated support system spanning early identification of high-risk residents through counseling, treatment referrals and follow-up care, with the aim of improving residents' mental health and creating an environment conducive to suicide prevention.
"Suicide can be prevented through small acts of attention and warmth from those around us, so everyone's involvement is vital to rooting a culture of respect for life in our community," District Mayor Lee said. "We will do our utmost to build a community mental health safety net so that the public and private sectors can work closely together to identify residents in need early and connect them with the right support."
If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare's helpline 1393.
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