At 11:37 a.m. on the 20th, a man in his 30s living alone in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, sent a text message to his family implying an extreme choice, saying "Do not look for me."
The family immediately called 112 for help, and the police, fire department, and Gimhae City Mental Health Welfare Center rushed to the apartment where Mr. A lived.
Mr. A did not open the door, and when firefighters and police tried to forcibly open the front door or enter through windows, he shouted, "None of this is necessary," "I will go quietly," and threatened to harm himself with a weapon.
The firefighters installed an air mattress on the first floor of the apartment, anticipating the possibility that Mr. A might jump from a high floor, and mental health counselors from the welfare center, police, and firefighters attempted to communicate with him through the apartment hallway window together with his family.
After persistent persuasion, Mr. A slightly opened the front door and handed over the weapon he intended to use for self-harm outside the door, but did not fully open it.
After confirming that Mr. A was not holding a weapon, the police and firefighters forcibly opened the door and entered, ending the standoff that lasted over six hours.
After regaining some stability, Mr. A was transferred to a nearby hospital around 4 p.m. for counseling and treatment.
According to the city welfare center, Mr. A was unemployed and experiencing financial difficulties, and it is known that he reported feeling persistently depressed due to an irregular lifestyle.
Heo Mok, head of the city health center, said, "The organic response of the emergency response council, established to effectively handle psychiatric emergencies, was of great help in this crisis situation," and added, "We will continue to maintain the network through quarterly meetings and strive to care for the hearts of our citizens."
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