Paju-si Conducts 'Healing Outing' for Psychological Stability and Recovery of Suicide Bereaved Families

Paju City is conducting a "Healing Outing" for suicide survivors on the 24th at the Suicide Prevention Center affiliated with the Paju City Mental Health Welfare Center.

Gyeonggi Paju City announced on the 25th that the Suicide Prevention Center, affiliated with the Paju Mental Health Welfare Center operated by Paju City, held a "Healing Outing" for suicide survivors on the 24th to promote the mental health of Paju citizens.

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This program was designed to help survivors left behind by suicide return to their daily lives and support their psychological stability. It consisted of various experiences such as ▲pink muhly grass walks ▲foot bath experiences ▲candle making, providing an opportunity for emotional refreshment and psychological stability for suicide survivors and a place to comfort each other.

One participant shared that after suddenly losing a family member, they felt depressed due to guilt, helplessness, and sadness, but gathering with others who shared the same pain and having time to empathize and understand each other was a great comfort.

Meanwhile, according to Statistics Korea, there were 137 suicide deaths in Paju City in 2023. Considering that 5 to 10 people are affected by one suicide, it is estimated that 685 to 1,370 suicide survivors occur annually. The center operates related programs such as the suicide survivor self-help group "Hanultari," where survivors with the same pain gather to empathize with each other's pain and share the healing process.

For more information about the suicide survivor self-help group "Hanultari" and other programs, contact the Paju Mental Health Welfare Center (1st floor, Paju Health Promotion Center, 68 Bongcheon-ro, Jori-eup, Paju City).

Additionally, from 2024, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates an integrated suicide prevention counseling hotline that is easy to remember and conveys urgency. The integrated number means ①: One life ⓞ: Suicide zero (zero) ⑨: Let's save, and it also helps raise awareness that suicide is an "emergency situation requiring rescue," similar to 119.

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