Suicide prevention law set to take effect

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Korea will implement a new law this weekend in an effort to cope with an uptrend in the number of people taking their own lives, the health ministry said Friday.

The law on suicide prevention and creation of a "life-respecting culture" calls for the government to adopt a set of measures to ward off suicide attempts and help people who have attempted to kill themselves, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Under the law that takes effect on Saturday, the government will undertake a nationwide survey and set up a 24-hour emergency call service, which will be operated by the ministry's consultation call center. Suicide prevention centers will be established across the nation to take immediate action against suicide attempts and provide consultation and treatment for people at risk.

"The government will step up efforts to secure experts in the field and provide various support programs such as counseling, training and treatment for those who have attempted suicide," the ministry said.

The new law comes as the number of suicides has been increasing over the years. There were 21.8 suicide cases per 100,000 people in 2006, 26 in 2008 and 31.2 cases in 2010. Some 108,000 people are estimated to have attempted suicide over the past year. Korea has the highest suicide rate among the member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (Yonhap)

Source: Koreatimes

Comments

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

Promotion of counseling and therapy is definitely a strong first step.

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

does this mean they'll also make it a crime to ENCOURAGE people to commit suicide (block b incident)?

[modernabsurdity.livejournal.com]

This! Those petitions and the people who sign it are repulsive.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

It is where I live but I have no idea about Korea.
I guess those actions could at least fall under harassment law...

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I think it's great that they're getting counsellors for those who've attempted suicide, but shouldn't they have some to try and stop them from attempting in the first place? I hope people will go.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I think there's also counseling for people thinking about suicide.
At least it's what I understand from "Suicide prevention centers will be established ... and provide consultation and treatment for people at risk"
But maybe it's a misunderstanding from me.

[miuratenshi.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that this is happening.

[phililen3.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to look at the causes and adress that too. Why only put out buckets for a leaking roof when you just can go and fix the roof.

[annhh.livejournal.com]

+1

otherwise I'm happy to see the kind of progress other countries did like 20 years ago

[sirhin.livejournal.com]

FINALLY.

...They also really need counselors at school.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

MTE.

[lonelymoon.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see the government taking action, but there needs to be a whole societal change in views regarding mental problems and disorders, because there is still a pretty big stigma against it despite the spate of highly publicized celebrity suicides.