As South Korea confronts its escalating suicide crisis, the Catholic Church’s multifaceted approach offers a lifeline to those in despair
Newsroom (10/09/2025, Gaudium Press )As South Korea grapples with a 13-year high in suicide rates, Catholic-led initiatives are intensifying efforts to support bereaved families, train activists, and educate youth in a bid to curb the crisis.
Father Kim Soo-gyu, director of the Seoul Archdiocese’s One Mind One Body Movement, emphasized the transformative impact of these programs. “Many who were contemplating giving up on life find renewed strength through participating in suicide prevention programs,” he said. “The most crucial element in suicide prevention is not systems or statistics, but people. In the midst of despair, the presence of just one person who listens can become hope.”
A Growing National Crisis
According to a March 2025 preliminary report from the Korea Foundation for Respect for Life and Hope and Statistics Korea, an average of 39.5 people died by suicide daily in 2024, totaling 14,439 deaths—the highest since 2011’s 15,906 cases. Men were more than twice as likely as women to die by suicide, with those in their 50s comprising 21% of cases, the highest among age groups. The most significant year-over-year increase was among those in their 30s, rising 11.6%.
South Korea maintains the highest suicide rate among OECD nations. A National Assembly report released on August 4, 2025, identified five key factors driving the surge: undetected early warning signs, inadequate linkage to welfare services, growing societal acceptance of suicide, the lingering mental health impact of COVID-19, and financial instability.
Church-Led Response
At the forefront of the response is the Church-run Suicide Prevention Center, housed at the One Mind One Body Movement headquarters. The center spearheads initiatives like the “Respect for Life Campaign,” the “Rosary Prayer Campaign to Convey Comfort,” and the fundraising effort “Reach Out, Spring, Open Your Heart,” all aimed at fostering hope and support.
The center’s innovative “Mobile Mental Care Program” deploys suicide prevention activists—many of whom are practicing artists—to engage individuals in crisis through conversation and creative activities. Additionally, the center offers pastoral care for families grieving suicide losses, with programs expanding across South Korean dioceses and religious orders. On November 23, observed as International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, the center hosts Masses and care programs to honor and support survivors.
Building Awareness and Resilience
The center also prioritizes education and training, offering spirituality-centered programs for priests, religious, and laypeople, alongside initiatives to raise youth awareness about mental health. Specialized training equips activists to intervene effectively in crisis situations.
As South Korea confronts its escalating suicide crisis, the Catholic Church’s multifaceted approach—blending compassion, creativity, and community—offers a lifeline to those in despair, underscoring Father Kim’s conviction that human connection remains the cornerstone of hope.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News
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