Seoul Education Office Issues Guide for Parents to Spot Teen Suicide Warning Signs
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education released a pamphlet outlining physical, emotional, behavioral and school-performance indicators that may signal a teenager’s distress. It advises parents to watch for unexplained aches, sleep or appetite shifts, mood swings, social withdrawal, increased aggression, and sudden changes in online activity. The notice also reassures families that seeking counseling will not harm a student’s academic record or university admission prospects.
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education handed out a parent-focused leaflet describing warning signs of adolescent mental-health problems. It lists physical cues such as frequent headaches or stomachaches, as well as changes in sleep, eating habits and weight. Emotional and behavioral red flags include persistent fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in hobbies, self-deprecating remarks, isolation, heightened aggression, impulsivity, and a spike in online use.
Academic indicators like declining concentration, falling grades, increased tardiness, absences or early departures are also highlighted. While urging vigilance, the office stresses that treatment or counseling will not result in penalties in school records or university admissions. Families are directed to youth hotlines and mental-health crisis lines for support.
