Yeongdeok County Health Center Conducts Life Guardian Training for Military Personnel

Military-Civil Cooperation, Suicide Prevention Education, and Fostering a Culture of Life Respect

The Yeongdeok-gun Public Health Center in Gyeongbuk conducted a ‘Suicide Prevention Life Keeper Training’ on the 27th of last month for 120 soldiers of the Jangsa Battalion to promote the mental health of military personnel and prevent suicide.

Yeongdeok-gun Public Health Center conducting suicide prevention Lifeguard training for the Jangsa Battalion.

A ‘Life Keeper’ refers to a person who quickly recognizes the signals of those at risk of suicide and supports them to receive appropriate help based on continuous attention.

The main contents of the training included ▲ understanding the value of life ▲ recognizing verbal, behavioral, and situational suicide risk signals for early detection of high-risk groups ▲ the importance of the Life Keeper’s role ▲ information on institutions available 24 hours for help (suicide prevention counseling, mental health crisis counseling), among others.

This training was conducted as part of a business agreement signed last year between the Yeongdeok-gun Mental Health Welfare Center, operated by the Yeongdeok-gun Public Health Center, and the Jangsa Battalion to promote the mental health of military personnel. Both institutions plan to continue efforts to support the mental health and healthy military life of soldiers.

Park In-sook, Director of Health Management, stated, “As mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress among young people have recently increased, preventive education to restore mental health and improve the ability to cope with crisis situations has become very important. We will do our best to promote the mental health of military personnel by continuously implementing projects on suicide prevention and respect for life based on close cooperation with military units.”