Boseong County Launches Full-Scale Operation of 'Boandeung' Suicide Prevention Program

Strengthening the Community Safety Net with 'Saengmyeong Sallim Supporters'

Boseong County in Jeollanam-do announced on the 24th that it will officially launch a new project called 'Boseong-gun Anshim Deungbul' (Boseong County Safe Lantern) to prevent suicide among local residents.

The Boseong Mental Health Welfare Center and Boseong Senior Club signed a business agreement for the project and held a briefing session the previous day. Through this agreement, Boseong Senior Club will provide personnel to serve as 'Saengmyeong Sallim Supporters' (Life-saving Supporters).

Boseong County Mental Health Welfare Center and Boseong Senior Club signed a business agreement on the 23rd to promote the streetlight project. Photo by Boseong County

The 'Boseong-gun Anshim Deungbul' project aims to prevent suicide by pesticide ingestion and strengthen the life safety net by monitoring pesticide safety storage boxes and conducting depression and suicide behavior assessments for 394 households using pesticide safety storage boxes.

This project will be operated from February to November this year, and those selected as 'Saengmyeong Sallim Supporters' are expected to play a key role in the local community.

The supporters will visit traditional markets and senior centers in towns and villages to conduct suicide prevention campaigns and actively identify high-risk groups, connecting them to mental health services.

'Saengmyeong Sallim Supporters' will be primarily selected from Boseong residents aged 60 or older with experience in healthcare or social welfare, and those selected will begin their activities after completing specialized training in respect for life.

An official from the county said, "Through this project, we will identify high-risk groups for suicide living in vulnerable and marginalized areas within Boseong County and create an environment where they can access mental health services." The official added, "We hope this project will provide warm care and support to local residents and become a lantern that brightly illuminates dark places."