• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.552-566
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• 2015

This paper deals with suicide that has become a serious problem in our society as well as in the world today from a Christian perspective. Historical position regarding suicide is divided into two; some see it as a brave and honorable act and give approval to it, the others view it as act of giving up the life that is given by God and are opposed to it. Though suicides in the Bible are mostly committed to maintain honor, because of Augustin's position it became negative in Christianity, leading to a thought that one who committed suicide goes to hell. Why then people commit suicide? The views of scholars on the cause of suicide are divided into three; biological, psychological, sociological. My position is that though each or all of them contribute to suicide, yet the decisive factor is on how a person reacts to them. Major factor of suicide is how humans as interpretive beings accept the present despair. On the basis of this understanding of suicide and humans, I conclude this paper with three new recognitions as an essential answer to suicide. First, humans are made in God's image and belong to Him, thus their life is precious. Second, Christianity views humans as ones look for the hope in the future as the eternal life. Third, suicide is a violation of the commandment 'do not kill' yet it is not an act of sin but a disease that needs to be cured. To achieve this Christianity must not only spread the idea of respect for life and also run suicide prevention center every city.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 2021

This study aimed to update suicide-related indicators including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and the number of suicidal deaths. Based on up-to-date information, we observed the trends of suicide-related indicators. In this study, five data sources were used to observe the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983-2019), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-19), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-19), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13, '16-17). The suicide rate, which peaked in 2011, declined until 2017 and then started to rise again from 2018, recording a suicide rate of 26.9 per 100,000 people in 2019. The rate of suicidal ideation estimated based on the recently available data was 4.62% (KNHANES, '19), 3.51% (KHP, '16), 2.87% (KHP, '17), and 1.70% (KOWEPS, '19). That of suicide attempt as recent year was 0.43% (KNHANES, '19), 0.07% (KOWEPS, '19). Annual percentage change of death by intentional self-harm was -2.11% (Statistics Korea), and that of suicidal ideation was -14.7% (KNHANES), -2.5% (KCHS), -10.6% (KOWEPS), and -11.3% (KHP). Annual percentage change of suicide attempt was -5.0% (KNHANES), -4.4% (KCHS), and -11.3% (KOWEPS). The lower the income level, the higher the probability of experiencing suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Considering the recent increase in suicide rate in contrast to the continuing decline in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, continuous data observation and appropriate policies regarding suicide prevention are needed.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2019

Korea has the highest suicide rate among the OECD countries, and the suicide rate is highest among young adults in their 20s, most of whom are university students. Therefore, suicide among Korean university students is a public health issue that is of interest to us. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the suicidal ideation of university students in Korea, and to use them as a basis to establish effective intervention for university suicide prevention through it. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using convenience sampling method. The participants were 344 university students at universities in S and G cities. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis using with the SPSS/Win 23.0 program. There was a significant correlation between depression (r=.45, p<.001), drinking alcohol (r=.14, p=.008), social support (r=-.26, p<.001), quality of life (r=-.46, p<.001), and suicidal ideation. In the first step of hierarchical regression analysis, satisfaction of school life (${\beta}=.198$, p<.001) was the significant factor influencing the suicidal ideation. Explanatory power was 25.2%. In the second step of the hierarchical regression analysis, absence of parents (${\beta}=-.095$, p=.044), depression (${\beta}=.247$, p<.001), quality of life (${\beta}=-.280$, p<.001), and explanatory power were increased to 42.0%. The results of the study indicate the need to actively identify the group of university students in their 20s with high risk of suicide through continuous evaluation of depression, and to improve the quality of life as a method of preventing suicide. In addition, the effect of absence of parents on the suicidal ideation among Korean university students suggests that parental support may play an important role in suicide prevention.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2016

Objectives: The suicide rate in Korea is increasing every year, and is the highest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Psychiatric patients in particular have a higher risk of suicide than other patients. This study was performed to evaluate determinants of mental health care utilization among individuals at high risk for suicide. Methods: Korea Health Panel data from 2009 to 2011 were used. Subjects were individuals at high risk of suicide who had suicidal ideation, a past history of psychiatric illness, or had utilized outpatient services for a psychiatric disorder associated with suicidal ideation within the past year. The chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression were used to identify significant determinants of mental health care utilization. Results: The total number of subjects with complete data on the variables in our model was 989. Individuals suffering from three or more chronic diseases used mental health care more frequently. Mental health care utilization was higher in subjects who had middle or high levels of educational attainment, were receiving Medical Aid, or had a large family size. Conclusions: It is important to control risk factors in high-risk groups as part of suicide prevention strategies. The clinical approach, which includes community-based intervention, entails the management of reduction of suicidal risk. Our study identified demographic characteristics that have a significant impact on mental health care utilization and should be considered in the development of suicide prevention strategies. Further studies should examine the effect of mental health care utilization on reducing suicidal ideation.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a protocol for the prevention of suicide in male baby boomers. Methods: In order to construct the protocol, a three-step expert consensus process was carried out. The first step was to compose questions based on various research data. For this purpose, two professors of psychiatric mental health nursing and two advanced practitioner nurse of psychiatric mental health in the composition. The second step was to conduct the first Delphi survey on expert panelists. The survey period was from October 13, 2015 to November 1, 2015. The third stage, the second Delphi investigation was conducted from November 10 to December 4, 2015. Results: As a result of the survey, a total of 7 areas of protocol configuration items were derived. The derived items include the characteristics of male baby boomers, suicidal signs, suicide risk factors, suicide protection factors, suicide measurement tools, related organizations, and mental health promotion programs. Conclusion: This study can be used as a guideline when intervening suicide prevention of male baby boomers in community mental health centers.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.231-242
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the personal factors affecting the ideation of suicide to identify the risk factors of suicide and to provide basic data for suicide prevention. The study subjects were 260 elderly people aged 65 or older who use the elderly general welfare center, the elderly classroom, and the senior club living in Jecheon City. The results of this study showed that personal factors affecting the idea of suicide in the elderly were significant in psychological factors such as stress, depression and loneliness. This means that the higher the stress, depression, and loneliness, the higher the elderly's suicide thought. In addition, the most influential factors in the idea of suicide of the elderly were stress, followed by loneliness and depression. Based on these findings, first, psychological treatment and prevention programs are needed to prevent suicide in the elderly. Second, it is necessary to expand the mental health support system, education and service for the elderly. Third, it is necessary to develop and disseminate stress coping, easing and arbitration programs.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2022

Objectives: Suicide is the major public mental health concerns all over the world. The comparison of suicide attempters and suicide completers could be the fundamental evidence for the suicide prevention. The aim of this study is to explore the differences between suicide attempters and suicide completers in terms of the stressors, suicide methods, and psychiatric diagnosis. Methods: Two types of secondary data were collected for the analyses. Data of the suicide attempters (n = 680) were gathered by intensive reviewing the medical records of Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Data of suicide completers (n = 11,722) were collected by the psychological autopsy data which were gathered by Korean Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Suicidal methods, psychiatric disorders and stressors before suicidal attempt were compared between suicide attempter and completers. Results: Suicide completers were older and male predominant compared to suicidal attempt. Hanging or gas intoxication were more commonly used in the suicide completion, while wrist cutting or drug intoxication were more common in suicide attempters. All types of stressors were found to be high in suicide completers than suicide attempters. However, the proportion of economic and physical stress were greater in suicide completers, while the proportion of family stress were greater in suicide attempters. According to the recorded diagnoses, the rates of depressive disorders, sleep-wake disorders, substance-related disorders were higher in suicide completers, while the rates of anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, bipolar and related disorders and somatic symptom disorders were higher in suicide attempters. However, after controlling the gender and age, there were no significant differences in diagnosis between suicide attempters and suicide completers. Conclusion: These findings implicate that suicide attempters and completers differed in suicide methods and type of stress. The results suggests that economic stressors, physical illness might raise the risk of suicide completion.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.127-146
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• 2013

The elderly suicide has become a social problem, and the need for academic and practice-based knowledge for preventing elderly suicide has been addressed. Unlike previous literature focusing on identifying risk factors, this study aimed to address protective ones which help to overcome suicidal behavior among older adults. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how older adults get over being suicidal and get back to life, and to identify what helps them during the process. Both in-depth interviews with 35 elderly with suicide attempts and field notes were analyzed through thematic analysis. The older adults described a pathway to rediscovering a 'will to live' that was related to a 'mind's incline' and included two kinds of protective factors. Based on the findings, it addresses the implication for the elderly suicide prevention utilizing protective factors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2022

The aim of this study was updating suicide-related indicators, including the number of suicidal deaths, suicide rate, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We observed trends in suicide-related indicators based on up-to-date information. This study used five data sources to evaluate the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983-2020), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). The suicide rate per 100,000 population decrease from 26.9 in 2019 to 25.7 in 2020. Based on recently available data, the rates of suicidal ideation were 1.48% (KOWEPS, 2020), 2.61% (KHP, 2018), 4.62% (KNHANES, 2019), and 6.96% (KCHS, 2017). Those of suicide attempt as were 0.07% (KOWEPS, 2020), 0.44% (KNHANES, 2020), and 0.32% (KCHS, 2017). Annual percentage change (APC) of suicide rate was -1.87% (Statistics Korea, 2011-2020). APC of suicidal ideation was -10.7% (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), -11.5% (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), -14.7% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015, 2017, 2019), and -2.5% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). APC of suicide attempt was -11.3% (KOWEPS, 2012-2019), -5.2% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and -4.4% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). Although the suicide rate in Korea has decreased compared to 10 years ago, it is still at a high level. Thus, continuous observation and appropriate suicide prevention policies are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.473-484
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relations among appropriateness of work, competency on student suicide and attitude toward suicide in health teachers. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive one. The subjects were 193 health teachers. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure the variables of this study. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression with SAS 9.3 software were used for the data analysis. Results: The attitude score toward suicide ranged from 1.47 to -1.03. The average score of appropriateness of work and competency related to student suicide were 2.34 and 2.81 respectively. Associated factors with competency related to student suicide among health teacher were appropriateness of work related to student suicide, two items of attitude toward suicide(suicide is an acceptable means to end an incurable illness and people who commit suicide are usually mentally ill), education level, education experience on suicide prevention and management, and the adjusted $R^2$ of the regression model was 34.3%. Conclusion: Health teachers were not tolerable to student suicide. However, they evaluated themselves as low in the appropriateness and competency to the work on student suicide, especially in screening and counselling of high risk groups. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to develop education programs about counseling and intervention on student suicide for health teachers.