Suicide Trends Among South Korean Young Adults Focusing on Sex Differences

Abstract

PURPOSE: The current study examined trends and help-seeking behaviors among individuals who died by suicide in South Korea, analyzed by age and sex. METHOD: This secondary data analysis encompassed all cases of death by suicide among adults aged 20 to 39 years in Seoul, Korea, from 2013 to 2020. Using descriptive statistics, we analyzed data from the Korea National Investigations of Suicide Victims Study using police records. RESULTS: Over 8 years, the number of deaths by suicide among adults fluctuated, with a notable increase among female individuals since 2017. Mental health problems were the main causes of suicide for males and females. Males tended to die by suicide due to economic or employment issues, whereas suicide among females was often linked to interpersonal relationships. Males were found to be less likely to seek help for mental health problems than females. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes tailored suicide prevention strategies, considering internal and external characteristics of at-risk individuals.