Ministry of Health and Welfare and Life Respect Hope Foundation to Publish '2021 Suicide Prevention White Paper' on the 4th
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] In 2019, South Korea's suicide rate was 26.9 per 100,000 people, an increase of 0.2 from the previous year. During the same period, the number of suicides rose by 129 to a total of 13,799.
Last year, due to the impact of COVID-19 and other factors, overall societal depression significantly increased, while the number of suicides was expected to decrease. However, experts predict that suicides may increase 2 to 3 years later as the social and economic effects of COVID-19 become more pronounced.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Life Respect and Hope Foundation published the "2021 Suicide Prevention White Paper" on the 4th, which includes this information. The white paper consists of a basic section covering the 2019 suicide status, a special section introducing suicide prevention research, and an appendix showcasing excellent local government projects.
According to the white paper, the number of suicides in South Korea in 2019 was 13,799, an increase of 129 (0.9%) from the previous year. The suicide rate was 26.9 per 100,000 people, up by 0.2. Compared to the peak in 2011 (15,906 suicides, suicide rate 31.7), the number of suicides decreased by 2,107 (13.2%) and the suicide rate dropped by 4.9 (15.3%).
By gender, males accounted for 9,730 suicides (70.5%) and females for 4,069 (29.5%) of the total suicides. The suicide rate for males (38.0) was 2.4 times higher than for females (15.8). Conversely, the number of self-harm or suicide attempts visiting emergency rooms was higher among females (20,850 cases, 57.4%) than males (15,486 cases, 42.6%).
By age group, those in their 50s had the highest number of suicides at 2,837. The suicide rate increased with age, peaking at 67.4 per 100,000 for those aged 80 and above. On the other hand, self-harm and suicide attempts visiting emergency rooms were most frequent among people in their 20s (8,732 cases, 24%), followed by those in their 40s (6,121 cases, 16.8%) and 30s (5,689 cases, 15.7%).
By region, Gyeonggi had the highest number of suicides (3,310), followed by Seoul (2,151) and Busan (1,020). The age-standardized suicide rates (calculated by standardizing the population of each region) were highest in Chungnam (29.1), Jeju (28.1), and Gangwon (26.4).
By month, suicides were most frequent in May (1,274 cases, 9.2%), followed by July and October (1,248 cases each, 9.0%), and March (1,182 cases, 8.6%). The lowest number was in February (971 cases, 7.0%).
The motives differed by gender and age group. For males, motives varied by age: mental difficulties for ages 10-30, economic difficulties for ages 31-60, and physical difficulties for those 61 and older. For females, mental difficulties were the most common motive across all age groups.
South Korea's suicide rate (per 100,000 people standardized by OECD population) was 23.0 in 2017, the highest among OECD member countries and more than twice the OECD average of 11.2.
Additionally, the provisional number of suicide deaths in 2020 was 13,018, showing a decrease compared to 2019. During national disasters such as infectious diseases, earthquakes, or wars, suicide deaths tend to decrease due to social tension and national unity. Measures such as psychological quarantine against COVID-19 depression, increases in basic pensions, and disaster relief payments are also estimated to have positively influenced the reduction in suicides.
However, psychological anxiety caused by COVID-19 and feelings of isolation due to social distancing continue, leading to an overall increase in societal depression. According to the COVID-19 National Mental Health Survey, social depression scores doubled from 2.34 in 2018 to 5.7 in March this year. Domestic and international experts predict a possible increase in suicides 2 to 3 years after the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 become fully apparent.
Yeom Min-seop, Director of Mental Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "The government will continue to implement tailored measures such as nationwide psychological support to resolve the psychological difficulties faced by the public due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to create a society safe from suicide."
※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling through suicide prevention hotline 1393, mental health counseling hotline 1577-0199, Hope Phone 129, Lifeline 1588-9191, and Youth Phone 1388.
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