Lots of suicide victims expressed verbal, behavioral and psychological indications that they were considering taking their own life. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The vast majority of South Koreans who commit suicide show distinct warning signs by talking about death or organizing their surroundings prior to their death.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Psychological Autopsy Center recently disclosed a series of interviews conducted with 683 family members of 566 suicide victims over the past five years (2015 to 2019).
A psychological autopsy is a form of investigation that tracks down the cause of suicide by observing changes in psychological and physical behavior before an individual takes their own life, based on testimony from family members and other evidence.
According to the data, 93.5 percent of all suicide victims (529 people) expressed verbal, behavioral and psychological indications that they were considering taking their own life.
Most struggled with lethargy or a sense of guilt, and suffered from insomnia or other dramatic changes in sleeping patterns.
These indications differed by age.
Those under the age of 34 became disinterested in looks. Those between the ages of 35 and 49 either sought to mend relationships by making apologies or choosing not to meet people at all.
Those between the ages of 50 and 64 showed dramatic changes in weight as they either ate too little or too much. Those over the age of 65 gave away their most prized possessions to others.
These indications became more frequent in the three months preceding suicide.
The data also revealed that 91.2 percent of suicide victims organized their surroundings three months before committing suicide, and almost half (47.8 percent) showed similar indications just one week before taking their own life.
These indications, however, were understood by only 22.5 percent of family members (119 people).
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
