South Korea has seen a rise in the number of young women taking their own lives since the Covid-19 pandemic began to sweep across the country. National Police Agency data shows a more than 40 per cent rise in suicides among women in their 20s between January and June 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, an increase which some experts have said is related to the coronavirus. Job losses amid the pandemic have been blamed for putting extra pressure on young people, with women disproportionately affected. Women are also more likely to be employed in the hotel, retail and food services sectors which have been hardest hit by restrictions to fight Covid-19. The Post has taken an in-depth look at some of the reasons the pandemic appears to have taken a relatively heavy toll on young South Korean women.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. In Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans, or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines see this page: https://ibpf.org/resource/list-of-international-suicide-hotlines/
