The suicide rate in Singapore has risen from nearly 26 per cent last year to its highest level in more than two decades.
According to a local Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, the development reflects the unseen mental distress in the city-state, Starnews Nigeria can report.
The prevention centre Samaritans of Singapore, SOS stated in its annual press release containing statistics on the issue, that the rate of suicides among young people aged 10-29 and elderly people aged 70-79 was particularly concerning, stressing that a total of 476 individuals killed themselves in 2022.
“The highest recorded suicide deaths since 2000, up from 378 the year before,” SOS said.
A veteran psychiatrist and mental health consultant noted that “Seeing the unprecedented rise in suicide numbers in Singapore is profoundly heartbreaking.”
“This increase paints a picture of the unseen mental distress permeating our society, especially amongst our youths and the elderly.
“It is crucial that we remain vigilant to the pressing issues that continue to heavily impact mental health, such as social isolation and loneliness.”
The SOS release further stated that Suicide “remained the leading cause of death for youths aged 10-29 for the fourth consecutive year”, accounting for 33.6 per cent of all deaths within the age group.
Findings have however shown that a total of 125 individuals from that age bracket took their own lives in 2022, up 11.6 per cent from 112 the previous year.
Meanwhile, the number of people aged 70-79 who took their own lives surged to 48 last year in Singapore, a 60 per cent increase from 30 in 2021. This is according to SOS.
The city-state, which has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, has a rapidly ageing population, with one in four Singaporeans projected to be 65 or older by 2030, up from one in six three years ago.
SOS chief executive Gasper Tan said suicide was a “complex issue influenced by various factors, including mental health challenges, social pressures, and economic uncertainties”.
“We recognise the urgency of the situation, and are committed to continue taking proactive steps to address the rising suicide numbers and provide support to those in need,” he added.
According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among those aged 15-29, globally with more than 700,000 people around the world dying by suicide every year.
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