322 suicides reported in Singapore in 2023; lowest in more than 20 years

SINGAPORE: A total of 322 suicides were reported in Singapore last year, the lowest number in more than 20 years, said the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) on Friday (Jul 12). 

The number of suicides decreased by 32.4 per cent from 2022, with a drop across all age groups for the first time, according to data released by SOS in a media release.

The sharp fall came after 476 suicides were reported in Singapore in 2022, the highest number in more than 20 years. 

Young people aged between 10 to 29 registered a decrease of 31.2 per cent in suicides last year compared with 2022.

However, SOS noted that suicide remained the leading cause of death for the fifth consecutive year for this age group - nearly 30 per cent of all deaths in this age group were suicides. 

Between 2021 and 2023, the highest number of suicides was among people in their 20s. These young adults are going through a lot of transitions and face numerous issues, said Mr Phua Chun Yat, chief operating officer of SOS. 

These include moving towards being independent as well as possible issues related to employment, family, financial and romantic relationships. 

"There’s a huge number of transitions that you go through along with the weight of responsibility of having to transit from a dependency mode to an independent mode, and then be able to provide support for people who may be dependent on you," Mr Phua told CNA.

"So, I think there's a lot of stressors going on during that period."

MEN SEEKING HELP

Of the 322 suicide deaths in 2023, 222 deaths were men and the remaining 100 were women.

From 2019 to 2023, the number of suicides among men was significantly higher than among women. This is not "unique" to Singapore and is seen internationally as well, said Mr Phua.

"We also know that men are less open to help-seeking ... I think there's a general unwillingness of men to come forward at the onset of the problem," he added.

Normalising talking about the issues they face and not perceiving such conversations as a "lack of capability" is important, he said, adding that supportive social networks with family and friends can help.

Formal social support can "soften our image so that we become more approachable", he said.

DECLINE IN NUMBERS

"While it is encouraging to see a decline in suicide numbers, we must remember that one suicide is one too many," said Dr Jared Ng, medical director at Connections MindHealth, a clinic that provides holistic psychiatric and psychological services.

"Each loss sends ripples through families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. We cannot be complacent; we must continue to be vigilant towards those around us, empathise with those in need and practice kindness to ourselves and others." 

The decrease in suicide cases should not be taken for granted, said Mr Phua, adding that there should be continued efforts to expand the suicide prevention network.

"This includes the very key touch points ... like schools, corporates, religious organisations, grassroots organisations," he said. 

"If we're able to form a tighter network over here, we will effectively increase the size of the network for people to seek help."

SOS CEO Gasper Tan noted that the decrease in suicides across the board is a "testament to the power of community and the significance of our collective suicide prevention efforts".

"However, our work does not end here. Our goal is to continue fostering impact within our communities because suicide prevention can and should be everyone’s business,” he added.

To that end, SOS launched an initiative called Mindful Bytes last year to mitigate the risk of suicide among youths aged 13 and above, and widen the safety nets. 

The programme aims to engage youths in safe online conversations, providing vital support to those at risk of suicide.

On the significant drop in suicides last year, Associate Professor Daniel Fung, CEO of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), also noted the substantial work from cross-sectoral agencies from hospitals to social service agencies on suicide prevention.

"For example, recommendations of the Interagency Research Workgroup for Youth Suicide have been implemented to facilitate deeper collaborations between various agencies and healthcare institutions," he said.

"These initiatives help to create an ecosystem of care and pathways that encourage help-seeking and early identification, support at-risk groups, and provide crisis support."