In 2024, the suicide rate in South Korea was particularly high among the elderly population over the age of 80, with **** deaths per 100,000 population. The overall suicide rate among people aged 10 to 79 years increased compared to the previous year. Suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 39 years. Suicide among the elderlySouth Korea has the highest suicide rate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). One driving factor for suicide among the elderly is poverty. Almost half of the senior citizens in the country live with less than half the median disposable income. Many do not want to become a financial burden for their families and end up committing suicide as a result of not being able to support themselves.Suicide prevention Since the South Korean government implemented its initial suicide prevention program in 2004, numerous measures have been put in place to address the alarmingly high suicide rate. However, these efforts have not been very successful. Despite an increase in the annual budget for suicide prevention, it still remains significantly lower compared to international standards. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling 988 to receive free and confidential support 24/7. If you live in South Korea you can call the suicide prevention hotline 109.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, about *** percent of middle and high school students reported having attempted suicide in the past 12 months. Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 years.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, approximately **** percent of middle and high school students who had suicidal thoughts in the past year cited academic problems as the main reason. This was followed by anxiety about the future and career, which accounted for around **** percent. Suicide has been the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 in South Korea since 2011.

In 2024, South Korea's suicide rate reached 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people, more than double the rate of 2000. South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Mental health in South Korea In South Korea, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, along with financial hardships, have been identified as significant contributing factors leading individuals to attempt suicide. According to a survey, nearly half of the respondents reported experiencing severe stress, making it the most commonly reported type of mental health problem that year. Additionally, suicide is increasingly recognized not only as an individual health problem in South Korea but also as a complex social issue that arises, among other factors, from the country's rapid economic development. Suicide prevention In response to the escalating suicide rates, the government introduced its first suicide prevention program in 2004. Since then, several measures have been implemented to address this pressing issue. For instance, Seoul City initiated the "Bridge of Life" project on the Mapo Bridge, a well-known site for suicide attempts. The primary goal of the project was to provide comfort to individuals contemplating suicide by projecting uplifting messages and images on the bridge. In 2021, however, it was decided to remove the messages and slogans due to their limited impact. If you are having suicidal thoughts or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling 988 to receive free and confidential support 24/7. If you live in South Korea, you can call the suicide prevention hotline 109.

South Korea currently has the highest overall suicide rate among OECD countries worldwide. The suicide rate among women in South Korea is significantly higher than that of women in any other country. Nevertheless, suicide is commonly more prevalent among men than women. Suicide in the U.S. The suicide rate in the United States has risen since the year 2000. As of 2023, there were around **** deaths from suicide per 100,000 population. The suicide rate among men in the U.S. is over ***** times what it is for females, a considerable and troubling difference. The suicide rate among men increases with age, with the highest rates found among men aged 75 years and older. Adolescent suicide Adolescent suicide is always a serious and difficult topic. A recent survey found that around ** percent of female high school students in the United States had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to ** percent of male students. On average, there are around ** suicide deaths among adolescents per 100,000 population in the United States. The states with the highest rates of adolescent suicide include New Mexico, Idaho, and Oklahoma.

BackgroundDepression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are significant mental health problems among adolescents, especially in South Korea, which has one of the highest adolescent suicide rates globally. However, few standardized and validated mental health screening tools exist for this population. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and establish normative data for the Mental Health Screening Tool for Depressive Disorder (MHS: D), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (MHS: A), and Suicide Risk (MHS: S) in South Korean adolescents.MethodsAn online survey involving 6,689 students and out-of-school youths (aged 10–18 years) was conducted between July and August 2021. Psychometric properties—including reliability, validity, and measurement invariance—were assessed by comparing adolescent and adult samples and demographic subgroups within the adolescent sample.ResultsAll three screening tools demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α: MHS: D = 0.92, MHS: A = 0.93, and MHS: S = 0.86) and adequate unidimensional factor structure in the adolescent sample. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis showed that the unidimensional factor structure of each instrument was maintained between the adolescent and adult samples, and that measurement invariance was maintained across adolescent sex and age subgroups. Reference norms indicated higher symptom prevalence among girls compared to boys, with symptom severity increasing with age. Significant correlations with mental health indicators (i.e., somatization, self-harm, perceived stress, and peritraumatic COVID-19 stress) supported the high construct validity of the instruments and highlighted the detrimental impact of mental health concerns on overall well-being.ConclusionThe MHS: D, MHS: A, and MHS: S demonstrated excellent psychometric properties across sex and age subgroups in a representative adolescent sample. Using these validated tools in clinical and community settings can aid in monitoring adolescent mental health and preventing suicide risk.

In 2023, the number of suicides in South Korea was highest among high school students, with ***** reported cases. Suicides were also high among those enrolled in university or higher education institutions. South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In 2023, the South Korean province South Chungcheong province had the most suicide deaths in comparison to other South Korean provinces with around 36.5 deaths per 100,000 people. This was closely followed by Gangwon province with around 34.7 deaths. Seoul and Sejong had the least cases of suicide deaths.

ObjectiveAlthough an association between energy drinks and suicide has been suggested, few prior studies have considered the role of emotional factors including stress, sleep, and school performance in adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the association of energy drinks with suicide, independent of possible confounders including stress, sleep, and school performance.MethodsIn total, 121,106 adolescents with 13–18 years olds from the 2014 and 2015 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were surveyed for age, sex, region of residence, economic level, paternal and maternal education level, sleep time, stress level, school performance, frequency of energy drink intake, and suicide attempts. Subjective stress levels were classified into severe, moderate, mild, a little, and no stress. Sleep time was divided into 6 groups: < 6 h; 6 ≤ h < 7; 7 ≤ h < 8; 8 ≤ h < 9; and ≥ 9 h. School performance was classified into 5 levels: A (highest), B (middle, high), C (middle), D (middle, low), and E (lowest). Frequency of energy drink consumption was divided into 3 groups: ≥ 3, 1–2, and 0 times a week. The associations of sleep time, stress level, and school performance with suicide attempts and the frequency of energy drink intake were analyzed using multiple and ordinal logistic regression analysis, respectively, with complex sampling. The relationship between frequency of energy drink intake and suicide attempts was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis with complex sampling.ResultsHigher stress levels, lack of sleep, and low school performance were significantly associated with suicide attempts (each P < 0.001). These variables of high stress level, abnormal sleep time, and low school performance were also proportionally related with higher energy drink intake (P < 0.001). Frequent energy drink intake was significantly associated with suicide attempts in multiple logistic regression analyses (AOR for frequency of energy intake ≥ 3 times a week = 3.03, 95% CI = 2.64–3.49, P < 0.001).ConclusionSevere stress, inadequate sleep, and low school performance were related with more energy drink intake and suicide attempts in Korean adolescents. Frequent energy drink intake was positively related with suicide attempts, even after adjusting for stress, sleep time, and school performance.

In 2022, the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 years old in South Korea was suicide, resulting in approximately **** deaths per 100,000 population. Suicide has been the primary cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 in South Korea for the past few years.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around **** percent of female middle and high school students had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months. The percentage of male students with suicidal thoughts that year stood at over **** percent.

In 2022, more than ***** people in South Korea committed suicide due to mental illness. Mental illness, financial problems, and physical illness were the most common reasons for dying by suicide among South Koreans that year. South Korea had the highest suicide rate in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that year. Suicidal thoughts in adolescents and older people In recent years, suicide has been the leading cause of death among young people in South Korea. According to a survey, academic challenges were the most commonly cited reasons for suicidal thoughts among adolescents. Additionally, many older citizens identified loneliness and financial struggles as significant factors contributing to their thoughts of suicide. Suicide prevention Although the government has recognized the problem and has increased the budget for suicide prevention over the years, it has not yet succeeded in resolving the issue. However, public awareness has grown in recent years, and there has been a gradual reduction in the stigma surrounding mental health. If you are having suicidal thoughts or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling *** to receive free and confidential support 24/7. If you live in South Korea, you can call the suicide prevention hotline ***.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2020, nearly ** percent of middle school students who were dissatisfied with school life seriously considered committing suicide within the past 12 months. Serious suicidal thoughts increased as students became more dissatisfied with school life.

As of 2016, Malaysia’s crude suicide rate stood at *** per 100,000 inhabitants. Although it is still well below the 2016 global crude suicide rate of **** per 100,000 people, the data indicate a rise in suicide numbers in Malaysia since 2010, posing a challenge for the Malaysian mental health care system.

A burdened mental health care system With only one psychiatrist for every 200,000 residents as of 2019, Malaysia is far short of the WHO recommendation of one psychiatrist to 10,000 residents. This, coupled with a prevailing social stigma regarding mental health, means that many of those suffering from mental health issues do not get the treatment that they needed. In a recent survey conducted in 2018, ** percent of Malaysians stated that they have never visited a mental health professional.

State of youth mental health
The shortage of mental health care professionals has a profound effect on the state of youth mental health. Schools are reporting higher incidences of depression, anxiety, and stress amongst youths in Malaysia. Pressure to perform well in school, as well as more modern sources of stress such as cyberbullying has led to increased suicidal tendencies and behaviors in Malaysian youth. While the suicide rate in Malaysia has not reached the alarming levels as in South Korea, the fact that it is increasing in Malaysia should be enough cause for concern to improve its mental healthcare system.