The Ministry of Health and Welfare is starting the second approval review to enhance the effectiveness of the suicide prevention education program.
The Ministry of Welfare and the Korean Life Respect Hope Foundation will accept applications for the second suicide prevention education program approval review from April 16 to 30. All institutions possessing suicide prevention education programs are eligible to apply. The fields for application are divided into awareness improvement education and life keeper education.
Awareness improvement education helps understand the value of life and mental health issues. Life keeper education includes recognizing and responding to warning signs of suicide crisis.
The programs will be evaluated based on appropriateness, professionalism, and completeness. Programs scoring an average of 80 or above will be approved. Upon approval, the validity period is four years. Approved programs will be distributed in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Suicide prevention education has been mandated by law starting July 2024. The targets are employees of government agencies, local governments, schools, social welfare facilities, and hospital-level medical institutions. Only approved programs are recognized as achievements in suicide prevention education. Educational institutions must register their progress on the suicide prevention education website by January 2026.
In the first review conducted in February, 38 suicide prevention education programs were approved. So far, a total of 107 education programs from 41 institutions have passed. The list of approved programs can be found on the suicide prevention education website.
The review process involves document review and an operational committee review. The results are scheduled to be announced on May 30. Educational institutions must submit an annual operation report by the end of each year.
Lee Sang-won, Director of Mental Health Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, “We will expand the participation of private institutions and experts.” The approval system aims for the nationwide dissemination of verified education.