'Neighbors and community watching out for each other'
The city of Hanam has launched a community-based initiative called the "life-respecting safe village" project, aimed at encouraging residents to check on one another and connect those in need with appropriate support.
According to the city Tuesday, Hanam selected five neighborhoods — Misa 1-dong, Misa 2-dong, Sinjang 2-dong, Wirye-dong and Gamil-dong — as this year's target areas after reviewing suicide mortality data and local characteristics over the past three years. The city plans to gradually expand the life-respecting safety network by bringing in a wider range of local institutions and residents.
The project does not involve building new dedicated facilities. Instead, it turns places residents already use — schools, hospitals, pharmacies, welfare facilities, apartment complexes, religious institutions and neighborhood shops — into touchpoints for watching over lives.
To that end, the city will support at least 45 institutions across the five neighborhoods this year, with each institution carrying out two or more life-respecting activities suited to its role and capacity.
Earlier, the city held a series of consultations from June 26 through Monday, targeting administrative welfare centers, schools, medical institutions, welfare organizations and community groups in each neighborhood. The sessions explained the project's purpose and participation methods and explored ways to collaborate. Institutions wishing to join were also invited to apply, laying the groundwork for a citywide network of partners.
Participating institutions will carry out five types of activities: checking on struggling neighbors and referring them to professional services; taking part in life-guardian education and campaigns; conducting life-respecting outreach; connecting residents in need with tailored services; and inspecting safety conditions in the surrounding environment.
Schools, for example, will monitor changes in students and provide life-guardian education, while hospitals and pharmacies will refer residents in need to professional institutions. Apartment complexes and community organizations will check on safety to give residents peace of mind, and religious institutions and neighborhood shops can join life-respecting campaigns and prevention activities.
Through these efforts, Hanam aims to carry out more than 90 life-respecting and suicide-prevention activities across the 45 participating institutions this year. The Hanam Mental Health and Welfare Center will support participating institutions with education, counseling and referrals to professional services, ensuring on-the-ground assistance is available when needed.
The defining feature of the project is its shift from waiting for people to seek help to proactively reaching out and making connections within residents' daily lives. By weaving together everyday touchpoints — schools, hospitals, apartment complexes, religious institutions and neighborhood shops — the initiative aims to ensure that anyone facing difficulty can ask for help nearby and be connected to professional support.
"The life-respecting safe village project is not about a select few protecting lives — it is about our neighbors and community watching out for each other," said Kim Seon-yeong, director of the Misa Health Center. "We will work with a wide range of local institutions to build a warm culture of life-respect, so that residents can show genuine attention to one another in their daily lives and connect struggling neighbors with the help they need."
Hanam will continue activities at each participating institution through December, monitor progress, and then roll out the life-respecting safe village project in stages, incorporating local characteristics and results.
Institutions or organizations wishing to participate may contact the Hanam Mental Health and Welfare Center for more information.
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare's helpline at 1393, available 24/7. Please request a translator for English-language services.
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