Religions Working Together To Prevent Suicides

Korean society has been conscious for some time of the suicide problem and initiating efforts to make a culture of love and life. Suicide is a retreat into despair. We need to improve the social environment and awareness of the problems.

 We are all guardians of life. So how should society live faced with the problems arising from the spread of despair towards life? The first step is to learn about the issue. In a recent issue of the Catholic Times, an article showed how the different religious groups in Korea are working together to solve these problems.

Children are increasingly being exposed to songs that promote suicide. One popular song was 'Head-butt Suicide'. This song was posted on YouTube on August 17, 2018, and viewed over 40,000 times. "Now it's my turn—Sayonara." Songs that represent the dark world are looked upon as good songs. It was designated as harmful for the young but the young people used this song as a text message to friends.

The attitude that society has towards suicide determines the rate of suicides in society. In a Suicide Survey released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in groups with suicidal thoughts, there was a high acceptability attitude and low condemnation of suicide.

In other words, the correlation between the acceptive attitude towards suicide increases the tolerance of suicide for those in pain. In particular in a survey in 2013, the results out of a possible score of 5, it was 2.96 but in 2018 it increased to 3.02. A growing awareness that acceptability increases the number of suicides.
 
A receptive attitude toward suicide leads to suicide. Those who have witnessed suicide can consider suicide as an option if they are struggling. In 2018 a report released by the Ministry of Health, 81% of 121 suicidal families were depressed. "The Suicide Families who are psychologically and emotionally affected by suicide have six times the number of suicides." "The suicide problem is not only a suicide problem." In this regard, a director of a study said, South Koreans are susceptible to people around them and when a suicide occurs the chances are that it will recur.

Experts advise that the environment must be changed so that the susceptibility to suicide can be changed. A doctor who was the head of the Center for Suicide Prevention Center in Seoul, said, "Man has anxiety about death. The environment must be created so that individuals can receive proper love and support from a young age, and allowed to mourn and heal suicide issues."

In particular, the doctor pointed out that "there are many believers who have separated what they believe from their daily lives and systematic education in faith should be carried out so that beliefs can work in difficult moments."

He also said that those who attempt suicide find it difficult to get help from religious institutions. "I hope that the churches will be able to take care of the members of the community better without overlooking those who are experiencing suicidal problems or difficulties."