Report on a study tour of practical suicide prevention initiatives in schools implemented by South Korean companies and civil society organizations

Abstract

[Objective] Suicide is the leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 39 in Japan. Additionally, suicides among elementary, junior high, and high school students have been increasing. Notably, youth suicide is also a major concern in South Korea; hence, Japan and South Korea share the common challenge of strengthening school-based suicide prevention measures. In South Korea, new initiatives include joint projects led by companies and private organizations and suicide prevention classes designed to promote active student participation. This observation aimed to gather reference information from South Korea to inform and strengthen Japan's countermeasures.

[Methods] As part of our responsibilities for scheduling and sending preliminary questions, we visited the Life Respect Initiative Office, in South Korea in August 2024. One member of the observation team served as an interpreter and conducted interviews with project personnel, primarily in Korean. After returning to Japan, we organized key findings and finalized the written content while confirming details with the Life Respect Initiative Office.

[Results] Funded through corporate social responsibility initiatives, the project comprised two programs: one focused on long-term mentor dispatch and suicide prevention classes, and another aimed at disseminating these classes. The suicide prevention classes incorporated games to enhance student engagement and followed a stepwise educational approach. The content addressed emotion recognition and verbalization before introducing help-seeking.

[Conclusion] Initiatives such as continuous mentor dispatch, implementation of game-based lessons, a phased lesson program, and a dissemination strategy for nationwide expansion provided useful insights for strengthening school-based suicide prevention education in Japan.