It is a worrying
trend that the number of people grappling with mental health issues is increasing.
But what is even more troubling is that every day 15 people attempt to end
their lives here in Singapore with at least one of them succeeding in doing so,
in The New Paper report “Learn to see warning signs of suicide” September, 9, 2017.
It is
heartening to note that Shan You Counselling Centre has introduced a suicide
awareness training workshop targeting the community. But more needs to be done.
When depressed people attempt suicide to end their
lives, resources get stretched. Besides the Singapore Civil Defence Force and
the police having to move in swiftly, the hospital where the suspect gets
warded and the courts will also see an increased workload.
Given that stress and mental illness
is affecting many of our citizens – young and old, these conditions and
suicides can be better managed if all of us play our part and look out for one
another. Mental illness education
should not be just be confined to the patients and their caregivers, but to the
community at large –neighbours, friends, religious groups, students, employers
and workers.
To raise awareness of the importance
of valuing life, I propose that the Ministry of Health in collaboration with
the Institute of Mental Health and the Samaritans of Singapore introduce an
annual World Suicide Prevention Day, which can be held in September – a month
before World Mental Health Day is celebrated worldwide in October. During the event, people can be encouraged to
light a candle to offer support for suicide prevention, to remember anyone
who lost their life and for enlightened suicide surviours to can share how they
survived their ordeal and are coping well.
Often people contemplating suicide will write about their pent-up
frustrations and distress on social media.
We can use technology in recognising patterns in people’s comments on
social media such as Facebook posts.
Through the compassion of people in our community, we can help prevent
harm to anyone who is distressed. To
this end, I propose that a software be developed to sieve out any troubling
post, after which mental providers can be called upon to assist immediately.
All of us can help bring the suicide rates down
and change troubled lives by having a conversation
with someone who may be struggling with their mental health issues, without passing
judgement, but by showing much empathy and compassion
It is futile for Singapore to have resounding economic success and yet her
citizens are losing the will to live.
To help bring down the suicide rates, the treating hospitals/doctors,
mental health VWOs and SOS who know of people who are suicidal should prepare a
summary of such cases and send weekly or monthly reports to the Ministry of
Health (MOH) for them to study the patterns. On July 24, 2013, I had proposed
through the press that a task force be set to tackle depression and suicides
and now one has been put in place (see my blog)
MOH can then submit the findings to this task force. Through these collaborative efforts, I have
every confidence that the suicide rates can be significantly reduced.
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