Seoul Metropolitan Government to Hold 2026 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Day Commemorative Event

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold the ‘2026 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Day Commemorative Event’ at XSCALA in Jung-gu, Seoul, at 2:00 PM on October 1. This event is organized to encompass the meanings of Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and Mental Health Day (October 10), serving as a venue for promoting mental health, suicide prevention, and psychological recovery.

The theme of the event is ‘Today, Check My Mind,’ and the message is ‘Seoul, looking after minds, connecting lives, and recovering together.’ It is prepared jointly by the Seoul Mental Health Welfare Center, the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center, and the Seoul Metropolitan Psychological Support Center. By bundling mental health and respect for life into a single event, it reflects the Seoul Metropolitan Government's trend of expanding related policies into an integrated response system rather than individual projects.

On this day, singer Park Jang-hyun will be appointed as the 36th Seoul Mental Health Guardian. The Seoul Mental Health Guardian takes on the role of participating in lectures and campaigns to inform citizens of mental health information and to increase interest and understanding. A congratulatory performance by Park Jang-hyun will follow the appointment ceremony.

In the first part of the event, commendations for meritorious persons and awards for excellent cases in the fields of mental health, suicide prevention, and psychological support will be presented. In the second part, starting with the opening video ‘Today, Seoul's Mind,’ the direction for Seoul's mental health will be shared, and the three institutions will jointly declare the vision ‘Seoul's Mind Created Together.’ This will be followed by a special lecture by psychiatrist Director Kim Byeong-hu on the theme of ‘Stories Told to the Mind.’ The lecture will cover the significance of checking one's own mind in daily life and paying attention to each other's minds.

Citizen participation is also possible. Any citizen of Seoul can participate in the event, and applications can be made through ‘Mental Health+’ on the Seoul Mental Health Integrated Platform ‘blutouch’ by 6:00 PM on September 28. Through this event, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expressed its intention to expand mental health and respect for life messages into the daily lives of citizens.