Seoul City Aims to Halve Suicide Rate with Expanded Call Center and Community Networks

SEOUL: The Seoul city government has announced plans to more than double the size of its 24-hour call center for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts and to build community-based networks for those at risk. This initiative aims to cut the city's suicide rate by half by the year 2030, officials revealed. The policy represents a shift from focusing solely on high-risk groups to addressing mental health concerns across the general population. According to Yonhap News Agency, the city's suicide rate last year was 23.2 per 100,000 residents, the highest since 2015. Recent data indicate that half of Seoul's residents consider themselves psychologically troubled, with depression rates rising to 8.5 percent over the past five years. In response, the city plans to increase staffing at the Maumieum Counseling Telephone, its 24-hour call center, from 12 to 30 by 2026. Additional support channels will include the KakaoTalk messenger service and a chatbot. The initiative will also introduce a community-based pr ogram involving community leaders, neighborhood doctors, and store owners to identify high-risk individuals and refer them to counseling services. Furthermore, a new "Seoul City Suicide Prevention Committee" will be established to analyze suicide-related statistics and conduct psychological autopsies. These efforts aim to ensure a more comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.