Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun of the 8th Civilian Administration's First Policy Initiative
"Nothing More Valuable Than Saving Lives"
"Nothing is more valuable than saving a life." Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, emphasized ahead of the 'World Suicide Prevention Day' that "we will expand mental health promotion programs to ensure that no one is isolated in a suicide crisis and support citizens to live healthy and stable lives."
Since taking office as Hwaseong Mayor in the 8th term of local government in 2022, Mayor Jeong has consistently focused on 'suicide prevention' policies. His first official approval after inauguration was the 'Suicide Prevention Hotline,' reflecting his commitment to "doing what is immediately necessary for the citizens." In July of that year, the city became the first basic local government nationwide to establish and operate such a hotline.
"Mental Health of Citizens Becomes More Important Amid Rapid Urban Growth"
As of 2022, Hwaseong City's suicide death rate per 100,000 population was 19.2, lower than the national average of 25.2. However, Mayor Jeong quickly pushed for the hotline's establishment, stating, "As the population continues to grow, the mental health of citizens is also important."
A counselor is providing telephone consultation through the 'Suicide Prevention Hotline,' the first policy of the 8th term of the Hwaseong City administration. [Photo by Hwaseong City]
When calling the hotline established by the city, professional counselors provide immediate consultation. After counseling, ongoing support, psychiatric treatment cost assistance, or connection to local welfare services tailored to individual circumstances are provided. In crisis situations requiring immediate intervention, the hotline coordinates with police and fire departments for response.
Especially for complex cases requiring integrated support, Mayor Jeong personally chairs meetings to devise support plans. For example, last year, when a suicide crisis case involving multiple difficulties such as illness and family support arose, the city held a mayor-led meeting to alleviate the individual's hardships through customized support.
Since the hotline's operation, the number of users reached 672 by the end of last year, averaging 37 per month. Among them, 389 people (58%) were high-risk groups, including those who had suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and bereaved families. The main complaints of users were physical and mental problems (37%), followed by family conflicts (23%) and economic issues (8%). Of the users, 38% continued counseling, and 33% received assistance through connection to local welfare services.
Therefore, to address fundamental causes, the city launched the 'Financial Welfare Counseling Support Center' in June to support the financial independence of vulnerable groups. The center provides counseling and education on debt, credit management, and welfare benefit systems; debt adjustment and credit recovery mediation and support; and relief from illegal private loans and financial counseling. In the two months after opening, the center handled 178 consultations, of which 11 cases applied for debt adjustment through courts or the Credit Recovery Committee, and 6 cases were linked to welfare services. It also provided emergency relief by connecting citizens with increased debt due to financial hardship to emergency welfare support for rent deposits and living expenses.
"Suicide Prevention Requires Community-Wide Effort"
Hwaseong City is also focusing on building a safety net through cooperation with the local community to prevent suicide, based on the judgment that early detection of at-risk households and timely support can prevent suicide.
Jung Myung-geun (second from the right), Mayor of Hwaseong City, is presiding over a regional care meeting for high-risk suicide cases. [Photo by Hwaseong City]
The city first established a crisis response system to ensure that citizens facing mental health emergencies can receive timely inpatient treatment. To this end, in December 2022, Hwaseong enacted the 'Ordinance on Mental Health Promotion and Crisis Response System Establishment,' the first in Gyeonggi Province, and has been operating a 24-hour 'Mental Emergency Response Private-Public Bed' since June last year. In cooperation with police, medical institutions, and others, the city secured three beds and helped treat 194 individuals in mental health crises by the end of last year.
Last year, to strengthen the cooperative foundation, the chairmanship of the 'Suicide Prevention and Life Respect Committee' was elevated from the head of the Western Health Center to the mayor. The committee includes the city, police, fire, welfare, medical institutions, and experts, and seeks suicide prevention policies and cooperation plans tailored to local circumstances.
The city also operates the 'Mind Relief Bus,' a mobile counseling service visiting vulnerable areas. The Mind Relief Bus provides psychological support services such as mental health self-assessment, stress tests, and mental health training while touring medically underserved areas. For high-risk mental health groups identified by the bus, the city connects them to in-depth counseling, case management, related agencies, and treatment cost support. The Mind Relief Bus has provided counseling to 2,849 citizens, with 151 receiving linked mental health services.
Additionally, the city is conducting 'Life Keeper' training for general citizens and related agencies to detect high-risk suicide groups early. Life Keepers, after completing training, recognize individuals in suicide crises and connect them to professional institutions. Last year, 622 Life Keepers were trained, protecting precious lives in the community.
Do You Know the 'T.T ZONE' Where You Can Cry Freely? About 280 Visitors Annually
Hwaseong City's 'Hwaseong Suicide Prevention Center' has also prepared a special space called the 'T.T ZONE,' where people can cry freely. This space was created in September 2019 following a policy suggestion from a citizen who said, "Middle-aged men also want to cry freely."
'T.T ZONE' set up at Hwaseong City Suicide Prevention Center. This space was created following a citizen's suggestion that it would be good to have a place where middle-aged men can freely cry. [Photo by Hwaseong City]
The T.T ZONE is equipped with soundproofing, sofas, indirect lighting, and videos so users can cry without worrying about others. Mental health professional counseling is available if needed. Safety measures are also in place to immediately connect users to emergency medical institutions in crisis situations. Approximately 1,200 people visited the space by last year. Most users responded in post-use surveys that the T.T ZONE helped them soothe their emotions.
Alongside suicide prevention, the city also focuses on the reintegration of people with mental illnesses into the community. To this end, since last year, the city has been conducting the 'Mental Health Welfare Center-Based Mental Illness Recovery Support Project,' which identifies individuals with mental illnesses and helps them receive services tailored to their needs and live harmoniously in their communities.
This project provides various services including support for discharge from medical institutions, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, treatment cost support for low-income groups, as well as housing, welfare, and care services. Last year alone, it supported the reintegration of over 6,300 people into the community.
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