By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Divorced or widowed men are more likely to take their own lives than married ones, according to a recent survey issued ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, which fell on Thursday.

The traditional concept of family is breaking down and the increasing divorce rate is driving many people to take such drastic steps, experts said.

According to the National Statistical Office, the suicide rate among male divorcees marked 142.2 per 100,000 in 2008, four times that of married men.

"The breakdown of a marriage or losing a spouse causes an extreme level of stress, which leads to depression and in many cases, attempted suicide," Lee Bu-sang, head of Seoul Suicide Prevention Center, said.

"Moreover, when men are involved in binge drinking, the chance of committing suicide gets higher," he added.

According to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, family feuding was the main reason for suicide attempts.

Experts urged family members and friends to pay close attention and provide care to those showing signs of suicidal behavior.

Kim Hee-joo, head of the Korean Suicide Prevention Center, said those vulnerable are people who threaten to kill or hurt themselves; talk about suicide and write wills frequently; are devastated; drink alcohol excessively or take drugs; try to isolate themselves from family and friends; suffer from insomnia and are always anxious.

"I believe many of those who attempt to commit suicide in fact want to live. They send various signals to others for help. It is important to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to them," Kim said.

Korea's suicide rate was the highest among 30 OECD member states last year.

A total of 12,858 people killed themselves in 2008, meaning 35 people committed suicide every day.

Suicide took fourth place among causes of death last year after cancer and cerebrovascular and coronary diseases.

The ministry announced Thursday that it would come up with comprehensive measures for suicide prevention.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr