In this study, we examined the current status of suicide prevention and interventions by
analyzing mixed materials collected through surveys and in-depth interviews. Fifteen military
support counselors who are currently working in the military base participated in the in-depth
interview.
According to the analysis of survey, one(7%) unit responded that they do not offer suicide
prevention services or programs, while remaining 14(93%) military units are providing programs
such as mental health programs aimed at soldiers, suicide prevention program for executive
members, identify high risk groups through psychological test on new recruits. Also, units which
include suicide related questions in counseling application form are 10(66%) and the units
provide suicide related questions to client at their initial interview are as many as 13(87%). The
interventions done by military support counselors to highly likely suicidal client were such as
report to chain of command, cooperate with military hospital, notice clients guardian, provide
counselors personal contact number at the most.
Difficulties that counselors face are identified by 4 factors : ‘military's lack of interest and short
of support’, ‘absence of suicide risk intervention system’, ‘social recognition’, ‘counselor factor’ and
11 categories. Among them, general categories are shown as ‘hush and glare’, ‘short of counseling
budget and specialized staff’, typical categories are shown as ‘absence of cooperative
organization’, ‘absence of corresponding manual’, ‘lack of interest and negative attitude toward
counseling’, ‘naive attitude toward suicide’, ‘burden and anxiety the counselor have to deal with’, ‘poor suicide preventing education and training’, ‘exhaustion caused by suicidal risk intervention’
and so on.
Also, Future development proposed by counselors are classified by for 4 factors : ‘improve
military's interest and support about the issue’, ‘establish suicidal risk intervention system’, ‘social
recognition’, ‘counselor factor’ and 11 categories. Among which, general categories are ‘budgetary
expansion and hiring more professional manpower’ and typical categories are shown as
‘improving problem recognition’, ‘24/ on-call system’, ‘establishment of unit and community
network’, ‘development of suicide risk intervention’, ‘compulsory suicide prevention education’,
‘education and training for counselors’, ‘mutual support between counselors’. Based on the results
of the study, we discuss ways to prevent military base suicide and suicide risk intervention and
give proposals for follow-up studies.