(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — One third of people attempting suicide are struggling with alcohol abuse, and 5 percent of them resort to attempting suicide again within a year, a recent study showed.
Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital held an online seminar last week to celebrate world suicide prevention day on Sept. 10.
Dr. Park Woo-ri from the Korean Alcohol Research Foundation Hospital quoted a report by the Korea Health Promotion Institute that showed 34.6 percent of individuals attempting suicide have experienced alcohol abuse, adding that “more than half of suicide attempts among men are from individuals who have experienced alcohol abuse.”
Park said that “the number of patients who have been hospitalized and passed away after inflicting self-harm or attempting suicide while under alcoholic influence rose to 3,176 people in 2015, which is close to 40 percent.”
“Alcoholic abuse must be dealt with in order to prevent suicide.”
The online seminar also pointed out the importance of recognizing that suicide re-attempts are a matter of utmost seriousness and that they need to be addressed fully.
“Five percent of suicide attempters who have been brought to the emergency room have resorted to additional suicide attempts within 12 months of leaving the hospital. Among re-attempters, 38.3 percent resorted to additional suicide attempts less than 30 days after dehospitalization,” said Prof. Kang Ho-yup from Donga College of Health.
“A one-month intensive care service for suicide attempters leaving the hospital will be effective in preventing suicide.”
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
