Reduction in Elderly Suicide Rates through Gyeonggi-do Elderly Depression Treatment Expense Support Program

Status of Senior Mind Care Project in Gyeonggi-do. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province's ‘Elderly Depression Treatment Expense Support Project’ has been found to significantly contribute to the reduction of elderly suicide rates within the province.

The Elderly Depression Treatment Expense Support Project is part of the Elderly Mind Care program introduced by Gyeonggi Province in 2013, which provides outpatient treatment expenses to residents aged 65 and older diagnosed with depression or similar conditions.

According to Statistics Korea, the suicide rate among those aged 65 and older in Gyeonggi Province (number of suicides per 100,000 population) has steadily decreased from 42.9 in 2020, 42.4 in 2021, 41.7 in 2022, to 40.6 in 2023. Comparing 2022 with 2023, when treatment expense support was increased, the national elderly suicide rate rose by 0.7, whereas Gyeonggi Province saw a decrease of 1.1.

Gyeonggi Province increased the number of elderly receiving treatment expense support from 191 in 2022 to 2,640 in 2023, and further to 2,860 by the end of September this year. Alongside this, mental health counseling, education, and programs aimed at overcoming depression are also provided.

In particular, to lower the barrier to treatment, Gyeonggi Province removed income criteria starting in 2023 and expanded the annual treatment expense support amount from 200,000 KRW to 360,000 KRW.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "Elderly depression, if neglected, can greatly increase the risk of suicide, so preventive measures from the early stages are crucial. The treatment expense support project is an effective measure for this, and we will continue to explore various ways to support elderly mental health."