Singapore reports 476 suicides in 2022, 98 more than 2021, latest Singapore news

In 2022, 476 suicides were reported in Singapore, the highest number since 2000.

Singapore’s Samaritans (SOS), a non-profit suicide prevention center, said in a statement on Saturday that this was a 25.9% increase from 378 cases in 2021. 452 suicide deaths were reported in 2020, and 400 suicides were reported in 2019.

Of the 2022 deaths, 125 were people aged 10 to 29. That’s 13 more than in 2021 and a new high since 2000, the earliest data recorded by SOS.

According to SOS, the number of suicides increased in all age groups, with the largest increase among the elderly. Suicides among 70- to 79-year-olds increased from 30 to 48, a 60% increase from 2021.

By 2022, there will be a 27% increase in the use of SOS services such as the 24-hour hotline and CareText Whatsapp service. This service is for customers unable to share their experiences over the phone and was added in 2020 to complement the hotline.

CareText was used 11,107 times in 2022. In the same year, calls for help more than doubled, from 11,591 in 2020 to 27,341.

Dr. Jared Ng, senior consultant and medical director at Connections Mind Health, said suicide deaths represent “invisible emotional distress” for society, especially young and old.

“It is vital that we remain vigilant against pressing issues such as social isolation and loneliness that continue to have a significant impact on mental health,” he said.

“Now is the time to double down on early detection efforts and actively encourage a culture of seeking help and caring for one another.”

Dr. Ong Sai Haw, Senior Consultant and Chief of Developmental Psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said parents, educators, medical professionals and community stakeholders worked together to create safety nets to prevent such tragedies. said I need to.

“From efforts to improve mental health literacy, such as acknowledging distress warning signs and the importance of self-care, to teaching peer support skills, we must do everything in our power,” Dr. Ong said.

He added that young people should be given more guidance on when and where to seek help.

“Collective efforts to address root causes such as mental health problems, social pressures and economic uncertainty must be prioritized,” SOS chief executive Gaspar Tan said. ‘ said.

“We recognize the urgency of the situation and are committed to continuing to take proactive steps to address the rising number of suicides and provide assistance to those in need.

“Suicide is preventable.”

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