Gyeonggi Province Holds Healing Camp for Suicide Survivors, "Together Forest," on the 28th

On July 28, Gyeonggi Province held the united healing camp for survivors of suicide, called "Together Forest," at the Creative Economy Innovation Center of the Gyeonggi Institute of Economic Science Promotion. "Together Forest" is the name of the Gyeonggi Province survivors' group and conveys the message of being each other's forest, standing by one another, and living together.

Since 2023, Gyeonggi Province has been regularly organizing healing camps so that bereaved families can experience a healthy grieving process and recover their daily lives.

The event was attended by 240 people, including suicide survivors in the province and staff from relevant organizations. The program began with "Heart of the Forest," in which the group declaration of suicide survivors was read aloud, followed by the opening performance "Resonance of the Forest," which offered comfort and empathy through a warm melody. Next, there was a special lecture entitled "Well-being of the Forest" by Professor Lee Hosun of Soongsil Cyber University, covering healthy grief processes and recovery. Additional programs included the healing session "Ear Therapy," which reduces tension using signals detected from the ear, and "Conversation Among the Trees," a self-help meeting for family members to share experiences and emotions.

Gyeonggi Province held a "Healing Camp" for families of suicide victims on the 28th. An instructor is explaining about the recovery of daily life for the bereaved families. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

In particular, "Conversation Among the Trees" was divided into smaller groups based on the participants' relationship to the deceased, such as parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent/grandchild, or acquaintance. Participants were able to share their experiences and concerns in a safe environment, gain a better understanding of each other’s grieving processes, and provide emotional support to one another. The venue also featured a wishing tree and a "What I Hope for in Gyeonggi Province" wall where attendees wrote down their wishes, as well as an exhibition space introducing the activities and significance of the "Together Forest" group.

Um Wonja, Director of the Mental Health Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "From July, as the national 'One-Stop Service Support Project for Bereaved Families' is fully launched, services now include psychological and emotional support, environmental and economic subsidies, 24/7 psychological counseling, and rapid-response dispatches." She added, "Gyeonggi Province will continue to strengthen support systems so that bereaved families can receive ongoing assistance within the community."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are at least 5 to 10 surviving family members for every suicide death. Based on the 3,829 suicide deaths in Gyeonggi Province in 2024, it is estimated that there may be between 19,000 and 38,000 suicide survivors per year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.