Health Policy Manag.  2019 Mar;29(1):1-3. 10.4332/KJHPA.2019.29.1.1.

The Need of Integrated Approach for Suicide Prevention

• Park EC

• KMID: 2446846
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2019.29.1.1

Abstract

Suicide is a major problem in Korean health care and a serious social problem. In Korea, 12,463 people (24.3 per 100,000) lost their lives due to suicide in 2017. Although the government has established three National Comprehensive Plan of Suicide Prevention (2004, 2009, 2016), and National Action Plan of Suicide Prevention (2018), the suicide rate is still high. The suicide rate of the elderly is especially high. This is due to the economic vulnerability of the elderly in Korea. Therefore, in order to prevent suicide in Korea, mental health care approach and social welfare approach should be integrated. The intervention of preventing suicide of suicide attempters should include social welfare services as well as mental health program and should be based on community. There are many health problems, including prevention of suicide, which can not be solved only by the efforts of health care. Many health problems are social problems and the integrated approach is needed to solve them. In order to solve many health care problems and improve health, integrated approach of health, social science, and humanities is needed.

Keyword

Integration; Suicide prevention; Mental health services; Social welfare service

MeSH Terms

Aged
Delivery of Health Care
Humanities
Humans
Korea
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
Social Problems
Social Sciences
Social Welfare
Suicide*