COVID-19 Youth Suicide Rate On the Rise

 written by 20720 Jeong Da Eun

According to the Korea Suicide Prevention Center, the number of teenage suicides nationwide stood at 320 last year, up about 7% from 300 in 2019.  While in 1990 there were, on average across the OECD, 8.5 suicides per 100 000 teenagers (15-19), by 2015 this rate had fallen to 7.4. This is analyzed as a result of the social chaos caused by COVID-19. The virus has been negatively affecting the mental health of teenagers. Because of

COVID -19, teenagers can't go out and meet friends. Previously, academic stress was a big factor, but now corona lethargy is the main cause.

Why Is the Suicide Rate Increasing?

Prior to COVID-19, South Korea had the highest suicide rate among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. 

Among the reasons why teenagers commit suicide, the first is mental causes such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and behavioral disorder. Depression increases the chances of making extreme decisions. For example, if you have depression, you become lethargic and can't concentrate on your studies. And you look at everything negatively. That's why teenagers choose extreme consequences. 

The second reason is academic stress. Teenagers tend to get most of their stress from academic problems. This is not because different talents and aptitudes are recognized and developed during school days, but because only one line is emphasized in the so-called infinite competition for prestigious universities.  They can't do what they want and only study to go to prestigious universities. This is frustrating and stressful for them.

Lastly is school violence. Teenagers who have become victims of bullying or school violence have an extreme fear of going to school. Sometimes they choose extreme methods by thinking that there is no other solution.

How to Prevent Suicide 

Preventive education is the way to prevent suicide among teenagers. Let me introduce how to prevent suicide rates in three countries with relatively reduced suicide rates among OECD countries.

The United States conducts the Yellow Ribbon  Project, a suicide reduce prevention campaign in schools. Experts have individual interviews with students and try to prevent suicide. Elementary school students receive group bullying prevention education, school environment adaptation education, and psychological counseling. 

In Australia, education is implemented in consideration of social context to prevent youth suicide. They are working on projects to adapt their daily lives for those who have returned to society after receiving mental health treatment due to the risk of suicide. In such cases, consideration shall be given in consideration of the social and cultural characteristics of the subjects. 

Finland provides remote suicide prevention education. To prevent suicide at an appropriate time for students living in urban and remote rural areas. Medical services are conducted through video footage or video calls. As a result, Finland’s youth suicide rate dropped by 25 percent in 10 years.

Preventive education is important, but wouldn’t the students who eventually attempted suicide really need someone to listen to them?