Seoul Gangseo-gu Makes All-Out Effort to Solve Suicide Problem Worsened by COVID-19

Operation of 'Visiting Neighbor Day' and Promotion of 'Suicide Prevention Intensive Campaign'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) is making every effort to reduce the suicide rate in the area and promote a culture of respect for life.

As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, residents are experiencing COVID depression symptoms such as depression, lethargy, and anxiety due to concerns about infection and social isolation.

The problem is that worsening COVID depression can lead to suicide.

Accordingly, the district is conducting the ‘Visiting Neighbor Day’ project and ‘Intensive Suicide Prevention Campaign’ to prevent such situations in advance.

The ‘Visiting Neighbor Day’ project is a program in cooperation with the Seoul Volunteer Center that supports high-risk residents for suicide to alleviate loneliness and depression through non-face-to-face communication with neighboring residents.

On the 23rd, the district held the ‘Visiting Neighbor Day’ event and delivered a total of 510 ‘Neighbor Kits,’ two per person, to 255 high-risk residents for suicide registered at the Gangseo-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, vulnerable groups in the area, and elderly living alone, together with life-keeper volunteers.

The Neighbor Kit contains a message card to send regards to neighbors, along with chocolates, nuts, stickers, and hand sanitizer to share.

Residents at high risk of suicide who receive the Neighbor Kit write messages they want to share with neighbors and hang them on neighbors’ door handles to meet non-face-to-face.

Through this, they can relieve COVID depression by encouraging not only themselves, who are having a hard time during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also their neighbors.

Along with this, the district is spreading a culture of respect for life in the area by broadcasting suicide prevention public service advertisements on a large electronic billboard at the busy intersection near Gangseo-gu Office, where there is heavy traffic and foot traffic.

In addition, the district is conducting an intensive suicide prevention campaign by producing suicide prevention posters and posting them in places where many residents can see them, such as community service centers, Employment Welfare Plus Centers, and apartment elevators.

A district official said, “There is concern about an increased risk of suicide due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation,” adding, “We will do our best to prevent suicide in cooperation with the local community and to spread a culture of respect for life in the area.”

For more details, please contact the Health Management Division of the Gangseo-gu Public Health Center.