"There Is Someone Here to Listen to Your Story" [By Your Side]

Interview with Crisis Negotiation Specialist at Seocho Police Station in Seoul
"When I meet someone in crisis, I try to create an atmosphere of everyday life"
"Empathy and patience are the keys to crisis negotiation"
Suicide prevention requires society-wide efforts and more professionals
Remember the suicide prevention hotline '109' when you need help

"I hope you never forget that there is always someone by your side who is willing to listen to your story."

Sergeant Park Sea, a crisis negotiation specialist, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the Seocho Police Station in Seoul on the 18th. Provided by Seocho Police Station

On the afternoon of the 18th, at Seocho Police Station in Seoul, Sergeant Park Sea, a crisis negotiation specialist, said, "Anyone can go through moments of pain or periods of darkness," and added, "I cannot possibly know how great your pain is, but it is not your fault."

When a report of a suicide risk is received, Sergeant Park is deployed to the scene as a crisis negotiation specialist as a top priority. He said, "In cases of suicide crisis, it is crucial to arrive quickly and secure the golden time," and added, "Having crisis negotiation specialists operating at the local police level is a great help."

Despite facing numerous suicide crisis incidents, Sergeant Park experiences a flood of emotions every time he is dispatched. He said, "When I meet someone in a suicide crisis, talk with them, and help them release their emotions, I feel incredibly relieved," but also added, "When I arrive after hearing the suicide crisis code and the incident has already occurred, I feel very sad and regretful."

The first thing Sergeant Park does when facing someone at risk of suicide is to create a negotiation zone. He explained, "At the scene, the person is often on a ledge or in a highly visible situation, so to prevent sudden actions or incidents, I try to create an atmosphere that feels like everyday life," and added, "I turn off the radios and emergency lights, disperse the crowd, and create a space where only the crisis negotiation specialist and the individual at risk are present."

The negotiation skills of a crisis negotiation specialist stem from 'rapport'?a relationship of mutual trust. Sergeant Park said, "The key is empathy. You have to approach with genuine interest, concern, and a willingness to help," and added, "Rather than saying what I want to say, I try to use words that acknowledge their emotions, so that the person in crisis can truly feel that I care."

The conversation begins cautiously. As the saying goes, the essence of negotiation is resolution through dialogue, not force, crisis negotiation specialists respond to the scene, negotiate with the person in crisis, and help stabilize their emotions. That is why the power of words is so significant. Sergeant Park said, "Depending on the person and the situation, it takes different amounts of time for someone to open up. When that time gets longer, I feel anxious and exhausted. There have been many times when I worried if I made a mistake with my words or if I was persuading them properly," but also added, "When someone who didn't want to talk finally opens up and shares their struggles with me, even breaking down in tears, and I feel that my comfort has reached them, that is when I feel most rewarded."

In situations where conversation is difficult, silence can become a strategy. Sergeant Park said, "Recently, there have been many highly emotional situations, but I don't just tell them to calm down," and added, "Sometimes, I just hold their hand or give them a hug and offer comfort. If you give them some time and wait, their emotions often subside."

He emphasized that reducing the suicide rate requires the efforts of society as a whole. He said, "To provide real help to those contemplating suicide, we need to secure more professional personnel," and added, "Active promotion is necessary so that people can easily remember the suicide prevention hotline '109.'"

※ If you are struggling with depression or have concerns that are difficult to talk about, or if you have family or friends experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling through the suicide prevention hotline ☎109 or the suicide prevention SNS counseling service 'Madeulraen.'