Suicide hotline callers to receive direct debt counseling referrals

South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Tuesday it has established a referral system linking the Suicide Prevention Hotline (109) with the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service's debt counseling line (1375), and that the system is now fully operational.

Under the new system, when a caller to the 109 hotline is identified as having suicidal thoughts related to debt problems, counselors will provide immediate psychological crisis support and emergency response before transferring the caller directly to a dedicated 1375 line. There, the caller can receive specialized debt counseling and access concrete support measures such as debt restructuring. During evenings and weekends, callers can leave their contact information to schedule a follow-up consultation.

To strengthen the system ahead of its launch, the two agencies held a cross-training session for their counseling staff Monday. The training was designed to help counselors from each organization understand the other's area of expertise and counseling approach, so they can make appropriate referrals when a caller needs the other agency's services.

"Suicidal thoughts stemming from debt problems account for a relatively significant share of calls to the Suicide Prevention Hotline," said Lee Seon-yeong, director general for mental health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "Now that we can directly connect callers in need to the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service — rather than simply providing information — we expect to respond more effectively to suicide prevention by addressing both the psychological crisis and the underlying debt problem at the same time."

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.