National Trends and Directions for Suicide Prevention Research in South Korea: A Narrative Review

OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews the major trends in current suicide prevention research in Korea and explores future research directions to reduce suicide mortality. METHODS: A literature review was conducted using MEDLINE via PubMed and PsycINFO to identify relevant studies published until March 2024. A total of 1,981 English-language abstracts were reviewed, and studies relevant to suicide prevention were selected for the analysis. RESULTS: Successful suicide prevention efforts include restricting carbon monoxide exposure, limiting pesticide sales, and installing platform screen doors in subway stations. Gatekeeper training programs, such as "Suicide CARE," have trained over 7 million people, showing promise in early suicide detection. Media reporting guidelines have also been associated with a reduction in suicide rates, particularly following celebrity suicides. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that comprehensive, multifaceted suicide prevention strategies, including environmental changes, training programs, and media control, can effectively reduce suicide rates in South Korea. Future efforts should enhance these strategies, evaluate their long-term impact, and address the new challenges posed by social media.