In some local school districts including those in the city of Daegu, applicants with the suicide prevention course certifications will get extra points in schoolteacher exams. (image: Kobizmedia/Korea Bizwire)
DAEGU, July 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Employment & Labor announced in March a list of new 41 occupations that the government would nurture at policy level. Of these, there is a job called “suicide prevention expert.”
Given the nation’s suicide rate has been the world’s highest level for ten years in a row, this is indeed something the government must step in to stem the tide.
Lee Joo-hee, director of the Association for Life Reverence, said, “In a social milieu in which pursuit of money is considered the most important life goal, more and more people choose suicide as a way to get out of their suffering.”
“Even though we need a lot of adequately qualified professionals who can heal the trauma of people and thus keep them from opting for extreme measures, there are so many organizations that give out certifications to unqualified applicants. All suicide prevention training courses must be administered with curriculums approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. But the strict supervision is lacking.”
The suicide prevention training course offered by the online Health & Welfare Continuing Education Center (not affiliated with the Ministry of Health & Welfare) is fully accredited with the Ministry of Education and approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Those who take the course can get tuition reimbursement by the Ministry of Employment & Labor.
Anyone who has completed the training course can get a lecturer job with the Association for Life Reverence and may be able to become a counselor/teacher with K-12 schools. In some local school districts including those in the city of Daegu, applicants with the suicide prevention course certifications will get extra points in schoolteacher exams.
For further information, visit the Association for Life Reverence (www.lovewf.or.kr) or the Health & Welfare Continuing Education Center (www.bbedu.or.kr).
Written by Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)
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