A review of school-based suicide prevention interventions in South Korea, 1995–2015

Adolescent suicide behavior is a serious social concern in South Korea, and there is a current lack of knowledge regarding the overall strengths and weaknesses of school-based suicide prevention interventions (SPI) for this group. The aim of this study was to review the benefits of and barriers to effective implementation of existing SPI for adolescents in South Korea. A review of school-based SPI was performed using the PsycINFO, PubMed, ERIC, KoreaMed, RISS, KISS, and NDSL electronic databases. Among the identified publications, 18 were subsequently included in this review and were classified into three approach types: universal (seven studies), selective (four studies), and indicated (seven studies). Major health outcomes associated with adolescent suicide have been suggested, but different outcomes from SPI have been found. The health-related benefits of these interventions were decreases in suicide risk from depression, aggression, and suicide ideation, and increases in the protective factors of self-esteem, confidence, social relationships, and respect for the value of life. Barriers to successful implementation of SPI included less consideration of the effectiveness of SPI treatment duration, minimal or no follow-up monitoring, low participation due to parents' prejudices against mental health, and underdeveloped referral systems. The findings from this review suggest that there is a need to revise existing SPI programs in the future to take into account of cultural sensitivity. The resulting programs should be useful to researchers, therapists, school staff, parents, and legislators in South Korea.