Amid Surge in Psychiatric Patients,
Joint Emergency Admission Response Center Leads Full-Scale Collaboration System
In an effort to strengthen the emergency response system for mental health crises in the region, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency held a two-day series of on-site meetings from June 25 to 26, visiting three key mental health emergency medical institutions in the province as well as the 'Joint Emergency Admission Response Center.' During these visits, the agency conducted practical discussions and presented letters of appreciation to relevant personnel.
The purpose of these meetings was to review police on-site protection measures for high-risk psychiatric patients and suicide attempters with a high risk of harming themselves or others, and to solidify collaboration with related organizations such as specialized psychiatric hospitals.
The three designated key mental health emergency medical institutions visited were Jinbo Hospital in Cheongsong, Miraero Hospital in Gumi, and Dongsung Hospital in Yeongcheon. All three facilities are designated and operated to provide 24-hour emergency admission services.
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency inspected the operational status of these hospitals and held in-depth discussions on hospital response systems and police cooperation strategies during psychiatric emergencies.
The number of emergency psychiatric admissions has been rapidly increasing in the Gyeongbuk region.
According to annual statistics, there were 419 cases in 2021, 569 cases in 2022, and 1,123 cases in 2023. As of June 2024, there have already been 1,213 cases, surpassing the total for the previous year. As of May 2025, 487 cases have been recorded, indicating that the upward trend continues.
In response to this trend, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency launched the 'Joint Emergency Admission Response Center' in November 2023 by integrating the 'Emergency Admission Police Response Team' and the 'Crisis Intervention Teams' of each city and county's mental health welfare centers.
This center serves as an integrated platform where police and medical institutions jointly respond on-site to quickly determine whether emergency admission is necessary for psychiatric patients and to ensure connection to follow-up treatment. The center has already achieved early intervention in numerous crisis situations and is planned to be expanded throughout the province in the future.
Choi Miseop, Head of the Public Safety Division at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, attended the meetings, presented letters of appreciation to hospital staff and distinguished police officers, and expressed deep gratitude for their dedication on the front lines of mental health crisis response.
Choi emphasized, "Mental health emergency response cannot be resolved by police efforts alone," and added, "We will ensure rapid, field-centered intervention and treatment through close cooperation with related organizations such as medical institutions, mental health welfare centers, and fire departments."
He further stated, "We aim to establish a mental health response system in Gyeongbuk that goes beyond simple safety, enabling residents to feel truly secure in their daily lives," presenting a new direction for community policing in the region.
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency plans to further strengthen cooperation with base medical institutions, institutionalize the emergency admission system, and enhance field-oriented manuals in the future.
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency plans to further strengthen cooperation with base medical institutions and focus on institutionalizing the emergency admission system as well as enhancing manuals centered on practical fieldwork.
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