An “invisible mental distress”: it is with these strong words that a Singaporean NGO accompanies the results of its study, concluding that the number of suicides in the city-state increased by almost 26% in 2022 to reach its the highest level for more than twenty years. Suicide rates among young people aged 10 to 29 and people aged 70 to 79 are of particular concern, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) prevention center said in its annual press release containing statistics on the issue.
A total of 476 people took their own lives in 2022, “the highest number of suicide deaths recorded since 2000,” the SOS statement said. In 2021, 378 suicides had been recorded.
“The unprecedented rise in the number of suicides in Singapore is deeply heartbreaking,” said Jared Ng, psychiatrist and mental health consultant. “This increase is indicative of the unseen mental distress that pervades our society, especially among the young and the elderly. “It is critical that we remain vigilant to pressing issues that continue to have a significant impact on mental health, such as social isolation and loneliness,” he adds.
Suicide is “the leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 29 for the fourth consecutive year”, accounting for 33.6% of deaths in this age group, according to the statement. A total of 125 people in this age group ended their lives in 2022.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide among 15-29 year olds. In Singapore, 48 people between the ages of 70 and 79 committed suicide last year, a 60% increase from 2021, according to SOS.
The city-state, which has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, is experiencing a rapidly aging population: one in four Singaporeans is expected to be 65 or older in 2030, up from one in six three years ago . “We are committed to continuing to take proactive measures to address the rising number of suicides and provide support to those in need,” the SOS President said. According to the WHO, more than 700,000 people commit suicide every year worldwide.
