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North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - DPRK)

Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines

  1. Primary Crisis Hotline:
    • Phone Number: No publicly available national suicide prevention hotline exists in North Korea.
    • Alternative Support: Limited mental health services are available through state-run hospitals, but these are not publicly advertised for crisis intervention.
  1. Mental Health Helpline:
    • Phone Number: Not available.
    • Additional Details: Mental health support is largely controlled by the government, and psychiatric care is limited.
  1. Emergency Line:
    • Phone Number: 119 (Ambulance and Fire), 112 (Police)
    • Notes: Emergency services in North Korea are state-controlled and not widely used for mental health crises.
  1. NGO and External Support for Defectors:
    • Phone Number: +82 2 3212 5560 (North Korean Refugee Support Line – Liberty in North Korea (LiNK))
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7 (For North Korean defectors outside DPRK)
    • Additional Details: Provides crisis support for North Korean defectors who have escaped the country. (libertyinnorthkorea.org)
Suicide Prevention in North Korea

Epidemiology of Suicide

Overall Statistics

  • Current Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people): Estimated at 8.2 (2019 data, based on indirect reports). (worldbank.org)
  • Trend Analysis:
    • Last 5 Years: Suicide rates in North Korea are difficult to verify due to state censorship, but reports from defectors suggest increasing suicide risk due to political repression, famine, and economic struggles.

Demographic-Specific Insights

  1. By Gender:
    • Male Suicide Rate: Likely higher than females, similar to global trends.
    • Female Suicide Rate: Limited data, but anecdotal reports indicate high suicide attempts among women due to domestic violence and oppression.
  1. By Age Groups:
    • Adolescents (15–24): Suicide is reportedly increasing among young people due to economic hardships and ideological pressure.
    • Elderly (60+): Suicide among older adults is often linked to extreme poverty and social isolation.
  1. Rural vs. Urban:
    • Higher suicide rates are suspected in rural areas, where food shortages and lack of resources contribute to despair.
  1. Special Groups:
    • Political Prisoners: Extremely high suicide rates reported among those detained in forced labor camps.
    • North Korean Defectors: Many defectors report experiencing severe mental health struggles due to trauma, persecution, and difficulties integrating into new societies.

Suicide Prevention Innovations

National Strategies and Policies

  • Overview: North Korea does not have a public suicide prevention policy. Mental health services are state-controlled, and discussing suicide is highly stigmatized.
  • Key Elements:
    • Strict government control of information about suicide and mental health.
    • Psychiatric care is primarily provided through general hospitals, but access is extremely limited.
    • Mental health issues are often attributed to ideological weakness rather than medical conditions.

Specific Initiatives and Campaigns

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    • None publicly documented: Mental health discussions are discouraged, and suicide is considered a failure of loyalty to the state.
  1. Programs Targeting High-Risk Groups:
    • None officially recognized: However, international NGOs provide mental health support for North Korean defectors in South Korea and China.
  1. Collaborative Efforts:
    • WHO and UN provide occasional humanitarian medical aid, but mental health services are not prioritized.

Innovative Tools and Approaches

  • Digital Tools:
    • No known digital mental health services exist within North Korea due to restricted internet access.
  • Community-Based Interventions:
    • Underground networks exist to support defectors and those experiencing crisis.
    • Faith-based refugee support programs in South Korea provide suicide prevention assistance to defectors.

Additional Insights

  • Cultural Considerations:
    • Suicide is officially denied or underreported in North Korea, making accurate statistics difficult to obtain.
    • Government propaganda discourages public discussion of mental health, portraying ideological devotion as the solution to distress.
  • Research and Data Gaps:
    • Little is known about actual suicide rates in North Korea due to strict censorship.
    • Most available data comes from North Korean defectors, who report high suicide rates within the country.
  • Positive Developments:
    • Humanitarian organizations working with North Korean defectors are increasing access to mental health care for those who have escaped.
    • Some international pressure is encouraging the DPRK government to acknowledge mental health challenges, but little progress has been made.

References

  1. World Bank. (2019). North Korea – Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000 Population). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/
  2. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in North Korea. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
  3. Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). (n.d.). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Support for North Korean Defectors. Retrieved from https://www.libertyinnorthkorea.org/
  4. UN Human Rights Office. (n.d.). Mental Health and Human Rights Issues in North Korea. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/
  5. Korea Future Initiative. (n.d.). Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Among North Korean Defectors. Retrieved from https://www.koreafuture.org/
  6. UNICEF Korea. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiatives for North Korean Refugees. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.or.kr/