Suicide rate among people with disabilities twice the national average

The suicide rate among people with disabilities is nearly double the national average, according to newly released data.

The 2025 Disability Statistics Yearbook, published Saturday by the Korea Disabled People's Development Institute, showed that the crude suicide mortality rate among people with disabilities stood at 56.7 per 100,000 in 2023 — 2.1 times the overall population rate of 27.3 per 100,000. The crude mortality rate is calculated by dividing the annual number of suicide deaths by the population as of July 1 of that year, expressed per 100,000 people. The toll was illustrated by a case in May 2024, when three family members were found dead at a single-family home in Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The three — a mother in her 60s, a son in their 40s and a daughter in their 40s — all had intellectual disabilities. No signs of forced entry or foul play were found at the home, and a note believed to have been written by the son was discovered.

People with disabilities face a complex combination of suicide risk factors, including depression, post-traumatic stress and social isolation.

In response, the National Disability Rights Advocacy Agency — the country's lead institution for addressing abuse of people with disabilities — is carrying out a public-private suicide prevention project under the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2026. The project operates a program to identify people with disabilities who have experienced abuse and are at high risk of suicide, and to connect them with tailored prevention services based on disability type.

Through the program, the agency is developing tools to detect warning signs of suicide earlier among people with disabilities who have suffered abuse, as part of broader efforts to prevent suicide in the community.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the agency, warning signs of suicide risk include self-inflicted injuries or unexplained wounds, talk of wanting to die or conversations about death, and a sudden neglect of basic self-care such as eating or bathing. Signs that may indicate abuse include sudden severe outbursts of anger, a loss of self-confidence, or a sharp and unexplained change in body weight.

A workshop held under the theme "Don't miss the signs of abuse — or the signals from the heart" brought together between 200 and 250 people, including individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The event provided information on how to recognize warning signs of abuse and on the emotional and behavioral changes that can affect the mental health of people with disabilities.

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.