Seoul goes positive to ease suicide rate
Source: Agencies |
October 4, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOUTH Korea aims to promote a message of life and hope at a bridge over the River Han in Seoul that has the unenviable reputation as the favorite place for people wanting to commit suicide.
South Korea's suicide rate has been the highest among developed nations for the past eight years, with almost 43 people choosing to end their lives every day.
The Mapo Bridge, one of 25 over the capital's river, has seen 108 suicide attempts in the past five years but authorities aim to bring that down by placing signs along it with messages such as: "the best part of your life is yet to come."
"At first we considered constructing a wall but that is just a band-aid," said Seoul city government officer Park Haung-jae.
"In fact, more people came to the river after screen doors were installed at subway stations," said Park, referring to screens at subway platforms to stem a spate of suicides there.
The messages on the railing on the Mapo Bridge were chosen by psychiatrists and are aimed at reducing tension and even getting people to relax with humor.
"Did you know gorillas all have blood type B?" reads one message. Another bears a standard Korean greeting: "Have you eaten yet?"
"Doesn't it feel good to be outside walking on a bridge?" asks another, while another simply says "Worries are nothing."
Some photographs of cheerful members of a family have been posted and there's even a statue of a person comforting another.
Park Young-ki, chairman of the Korea Suicide Prevention Union, said people considering suicide were highly agitated.
"By looking at phrases or images they like it may help them come to themselves," Park said. "Those who try to commit suicide want someone to stop them."
South Korea's suicide rate has been the highest among developed nations for the past eight years, with almost 43 people choosing to end their lives every day.
The Mapo Bridge, one of 25 over the capital's river, has seen 108 suicide attempts in the past five years but authorities aim to bring that down by placing signs along it with messages such as: "the best part of your life is yet to come."
"At first we considered constructing a wall but that is just a band-aid," said Seoul city government officer Park Haung-jae.
"In fact, more people came to the river after screen doors were installed at subway stations," said Park, referring to screens at subway platforms to stem a spate of suicides there.
The messages on the railing on the Mapo Bridge were chosen by psychiatrists and are aimed at reducing tension and even getting people to relax with humor.
"Did you know gorillas all have blood type B?" reads one message. Another bears a standard Korean greeting: "Have you eaten yet?"
"Doesn't it feel good to be outside walking on a bridge?" asks another, while another simply says "Worries are nothing."
Some photographs of cheerful members of a family have been posted and there's even a statue of a person comforting another.
Park Young-ki, chairman of the Korea Suicide Prevention Union, said people considering suicide were highly agitated.
"By looking at phrases or images they like it may help them come to themselves," Park said. "Those who try to commit suicide want someone to stop them."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
