Suicide is a serious issue that leaves deep wounds in the lives of individuals and families around the world. For refugees and migrants who are starting a new life in an unfamiliar country, multiple challenges can pile up at once — isolation, language barriers, uncertain legal status — and these can make your mental health more vulnerable. This document is based on the 2021 Refugee Mental Health UP Campaign, run jointly by MAP (Migration to Asia Peace) and Samsung Medical Center. It explains common misconceptions about suicide, warning signs to watch for, and how to get help, all in a straightforward and friendly way. If you are going through a very hard time right now, please know: you are not alone.
What This Document Covers
- Common misconceptions about suicide, and the truth behind them
- Recognising warning signs
- What you can do when you notice warning signs in someone around you
- Ways to overcome depression, which can lead to suicidal thoughts
- Help contacts for refugees and migrants
Misconceptions About Suicide, and the Truth
There are many mistaken beliefs about suicide. These misconceptions can actually stop people from seeking help, so it is important to get the facts straight first.
| Misconception | The Truth |
|---|---|
| ”Talking about suicide plants the idea in someone’s head.” | This is not true. Talking openly about it actually helps lift the burden and can prevent a crisis. |
| ”People who say they want to die never actually do it.” | Mentioning suicide can be a sign that someone is asking for help. Always take it seriously. |
| ”Suicidal urges come out of nowhere and never go away.” | Suicidal urges are temporary. With the right support, things can get better. |
| ”Suicide only happens to certain kinds of people.” | It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, nationality, or gender. |
Recognising Warning Signs
Paying a little attention to changes in someone’s words and behaviour can help you spot a crisis before it gets worse. Please watch carefully if you notice any of the following.
Things Someone Might Say
- Saying things like “I wish everything would just end” or “I want to die” on a regular basis
- Putting themselves down severely — for example, “Everyone would be better off without me”
- Saying “I have no reason to keep living”
Things Someone Might Do
- Suddenly giving away or tidying up belongings they used to value
- Reaching out out of nowhere to say goodbye to people they had lost touch with
- Withdrawing from family and friends and spending much more time alone
- A sudden sharp increase in alcohol or drug use
- Sleeping almost not at all, or sleeping far more than usual
Feelings Someone Might Show
People who are thinking about suicide often experience a complicated mix of emotions, including:
- Deep hopelessness: A feeling that things can never get better
- Helplessness: A sense of being completely unable to do anything for themselves
- Strong loneliness and isolation: A feeling that nobody understands them
- Intense anxiety or agitation
- A sudden calm after a long period of severe depression — this can actually signal greater danger, not less
What You Can Do When You Notice Warning Signs
If you notice warning signs in someone around you, please reach out to them even if it feels scary. The steps below can help.
If a Family Member or Friend May Be Thinking About Suicide
- Ask directly. It is good to ask plainly: “You seem like you’re going through a really hard time lately — are you having thoughts of wanting to die?” What matters most is that you do not judge or criticise them.
- Listen. Rather than rushing to offer solutions, simply listening to everything they have to say is already a huge help.
- Do not leave them alone. If you sense real danger, stay with them somewhere safe.
- Help connect them to professional support. The contacts listed below can connect them with a trained counsellor. If you can, make the call with them or go to an appointment together.
- Remove the means. Move medications, sharp objects, and anything else that could cause harm somewhere out of sight and out of reach.
Overcoming Depression That Can Lead to Suicide
Suicidal thoughts often grow from long-lasting feelings of depression. Depression is not a sign of weak willpower — it is an illness of the mind that needs treatment. The following things can help.
- Seek professional support: Talking with a mental health specialist or counsellor is the most effective step. You can use the contacts listed below.
- Keep a regular routine: Going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day, and eating regular meals as much as you are able to, helps stabilise your mood.
- Move your body, little by little: Even 10 to 20 minutes of walking or gentle exercise each day can lift how you feel.
- Reduce time alone: Spend time with someone you trust, or try joining a community activity.
- Go easy on alcohol and drugs: Alcohol may feel like it relieves tension in the short term, but it can actually deepen depression over time.
Places Where You Can Get Help Right Now
If things feel very hard right now, you do not have to get through it alone. Please reach out to any of the contacts below at any time.
| Organisation | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Suicide Prevention Counselling Line | 109 | Open 24 hours, every day of the year |
| Mental Health Crisis Counselling Line | 1577-0199 | Open 24 hours, every day of the year |
| Life Line (Saengmyeong-ui Jeonhwa) | 1588-9191 | Open 24 hours, every day of the year |
| Immigration Contact Center (1345) | 1345 | Multilingual support for migrants and refugees |
About the 2021 Refugee Mental Health UP Campaign
The content of this document is based on the 2021 Refugee Mental Health UP Campaign, produced jointly by MAP (Migration to Asia Peace) and Samsung Medical Center. The campaign was created out of a belief that mental health matters just as much as physical health, and its goal was to share mental health information with refugees and migrants living in Korea across multiple languages.
The topics the campaign covered are:
- Corona Blue (feelings of depression tied to the COVID-19 situation)
- Suicide (this document)
- Sleep disorders
- Alcohol dependency
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
Useful Links
- Subscribe to MAP Refugee News: https://forms.gle/J2cek5WnXZoV1HtS6
- Suicide Prevention Counselling Line: https://www.counselors.or.kr
- Mental Health Crisis Counselling Line: https://www.mentalhealth.go.kr
- Immigration Contact Center (1345): https://www.hikorea.go.kr