Standardized Suicide Prevention Program for Gatekeeper Intervention of North Korean Defectors in South Korea

Lee, Yeon Jung; Lee, Hyeon-Ah; Kim, Kyong Ah; Baik, Myungjae; Paik, Jong-Woo; Seol, Jinmi; Lee, Sang Min; Lee, Eun-Jin; Lee, Haewoo; Lim, Meerae; Jun, Jin Yong; Ki, Seon Wan; Jeon, Hong Jin; Kwon, Sun Jung; Lee, Hwa-Young

doi:2023.20.5.452

Psychiatry Investig > Volume 20(5); 2023 > Article

Original Article

Psychiatry Investigation 2023;20(5):452-460.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2023.0007 Published online May 25, 2023.

Standardized Suicide Prevention Program for Gatekeeper Intervention of North Korean Defectors in South Korea

Yeon Jung Lee¹

, Hyeon-Ah Lee²

, Kyong Ah Kim³

, Myungjae Baik⁴

, Jong-Woo Paik⁴

, Jinmi Seol⁵

, Sang Min Lee⁴

, Eun-Jin Lee⁶

, Haewoo Lee⁷

, Meerae Lim⁵

, Jin Yong Jun⁸

, Seon Wan Ki⁹

, Hong Jin Jeon¹⁰

, Sun Jung Kwon¹¹

, Hwa-Young Lee²

^¹Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^²Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
^³Department of Psychology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^⁴Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^⁵Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^⁶Department of Social Welfare, Suwon Science College, Hwaseong, Republic of Korea
^⁷Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^⁸Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^⁹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
^¹⁰Department of Psychiatry, Depression Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^¹¹Republic of Korea Air Force, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

Correspondence: Hwa-Young Lee ,Tel: +82-41-570-3871, Fax: +82-41-592-3804, Email: leehway@schmc.ac.kr

Received: January 9, 2023 Revised: January 25, 2023 Accepted: January 29, 2023 Published online: May 25, 2023
*Yeon Jung Lee and Hyeon-Ah Lee contributed equally to this study as co-first authors.

Abstract

Objective
North Korean defectors (NKDs) have experienced substantial difficulties during the migration and settlement in South Korea. They have a high prevalence of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal behaviors. The high prevalence of mental disorders among NKDs can lead to a high suicide rate. However, there are no suicide prevention programs for NKDs. This study aims to customize a suicide prevention program with content suitable for NKDs’ particular circumstances.
Methods
A multidisciplinary research team developed this program based on domestic and international gatekeeper training programs for suicide prevention and articles related to suicide prevention.
Results
We developed a multi-part gatekeeper training program, “Suicide CARE for NKDs.” In the “Introduction,” trainees learn about the need for the program and its importance. In “Careful observation,” trainees learn to recognize linguistic, behavioral, and situational signals of suicide risk. In “Active listening,” trainees learn how to ask about suicidal thoughts and to listen empathetically. In “Risk evaluation and expert referral,” trainees learn to evaluate suicide risk and to connect NKDs with institutes or services.
Conclusion
We expect this program to become useful for training gatekeepers to prevent suicide among NKD. A future follow-up study is needed to confirm the efficacy of the program.

Key words Suicide; Prevention; Gatekeeper; North Korean Defectors