Korea Suicide Survivors Association: "Survivors Must Participate in Suicide Countermeasure Headquarters Activities"

As a pan-government Suicide Countermeasure Headquarters is set to be established under the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Korea Suicide Survivors Association has called for the participation of suicide survivors in the operation of the headquarters.

SOS Lifeline installed on Mapo Bridge in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 23rd, the Korea Suicide Survivors Association stated, "The decision to establish the Suicide Countermeasure Headquarters marks an important turning point, redefining suicide as a public issue for which both the nation and society must take responsibility, rather than as an individual tragedy." The association added, "It is essential to clearly guarantee a structure in which suicide survivors and organizations representing them can officially participate in the composition and operation of the headquarters."

The association further noted, "Suicide survivors have long remained on the periphery of policy discussions and have been viewed merely as recipients of support, rather than as partners in policy design. As a result, policies regarding postvention, survivor support, and secondary suicide prevention have been disconnected from the realities faced by survivors."

The association also called for sustainable suicide prevention policies. The Korea Suicide Survivors Association emphasized, "In order to prevent repeated suicides, support for suicide survivors and postvention policies must be institutionalized as independent and sustainable pillars of suicide prevention policy." The association continued, "It is also necessary to establish a care system involving local communities, private organizations, and religious institutions to ensure that suicide survivors are not isolated."

On December 2, the Office for Government Policy Coordination enacted and implemented an administrative order titled 'Regulation on the Establishment and Operation of the Pan-Government Suicide Countermeasure Headquarters.' The headquarters will oversee the planning, implementation monitoring, and institutional improvement of suicide prevention policies, and will appoint up to 50 advisory committee members.