Gunwi-gun achieves 2nd-tier suicide safety rating for 3 consecutive years

Gunwi-gun in Daegu has maintained a second-tier rating in the suicide category of the Ministry of Interior and Safety's Regional Safety Index for three consecutive years, from 2023 to 2025.

According to Gunwi-gun on Friday, the Regional Safety Index evaluates safety capacity across six categories — traffic accidents, fire, crime, lifestyle safety, suicide and infectious disease — on a five-tier scale under the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, with a rating closer to the first tier indicating a relatively safer area.

To promote a life-respecting culture centered on the local community, Gunwi-gun has designated Gunwi-eup and Bugye-myeon as "life-respecting safe villages" and operates eight clinics, hospitals and pharmacies committed to suicide prevention.

The county has also partnered with police, fire departments and other relevant agencies to identify high-risk individuals early and strengthen connections to mental health services.

A standout initiative is "Bomulham" — a senior-focused suicide prevention project whose name stands for "look, ask and be together with neighbors" — which trains lifestyle support workers as life guardians and conducts mental health screenings for elderly residents.

The county has also distributed pesticide safety storage boxes to 295 households across 10 villages to prevent poisoning incidents and promote a safer living environment.

These efforts have yielded measurable results: referrals of at-risk individuals increased 2.8 times in 2026 compared with 2024, and the number of people receiving case management more than doubled, reflecting more active identification and follow-up of those in crisis.

Alongside this, Gunwi-gun is pursuing tailored mental health programs across different life stages and settings, including efforts to improve the retail environment for potentially harmful means and the operation of "Maeum Swimteo," a mental health rest program for workers.

"Maintaining a second-tier rating in the suicide category for three consecutive years is the result of consistent efforts made together with the community to protect the lives of our residents," Gunwi-gun Mayor Kim Jin-yeol said. "We will continue to strengthen the community safety net so that high-risk individuals can be identified early and provided with the mental health services they need."

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.