More young people committed suicide last year

SINGAPORE — The number of suicides reached a record high last year, with those involving people between 20 and 29 years old registering the most significant increase.

Last year, 83 people — 56 men and 27 women — in this age group committed suicide, an 80 per cent spike from 46 in 2011.

In total, there were 467 suicides last year, compared with 361 in 2011. Correspondingly, the national suicide rate went up to 10.27 per 100,000 residents last year, compared to 8.13 in 2011.

Suicide prevention agency Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), which released the figures yesterday, said another 95 people between 20 and 29 years old were referred to the agency last year for attempting suicide, marking an increase of 38 per cent from 69 in 2011.

SOS said common problems for this age group “involved stressful life events and interpersonal relationship issues”. These include unemployment, stress over studies or work, financial worries, family life, struggles with social interaction and feelings of loneliness.

It added that suicide is “rarely due to a single event, but often results from a series of interrelated social, biological, environmental and psychological factors”.

SOS Executive Director Christine Wong said: “People in their 20s are exploring their identity, discovering new responsibilities and building their career and their family, all of which can be very stressful.”

She added that young people tend to hide their pain and that they also do not know where or who they can approach for help, or how to do so.

On what can be done to prevent more youth suicides, Ms Wong cited the important role of the community in encouraging help-seeking behaviour and de-stigmatising suicide by letting their loved ones know that it is okay to talk about their distress or suicidal feelings.

Dr Chia Boon Hock, a psychiatrist specialising in suicide, said the faster pace of life, coupled with the fact that those aged between 20 and 29 “expect a lot and want a lot more”, contributed to the higher number of suicides.

“Life is tougher compared to the previous generation because now there is too much to want, too much to need and too much to buy,” he said.

Dr Chia also noted an increase in the number of men in this age group who committed suicide last year. The number was double that of 2011.

“Men are less likely to ask for help,” he noted.

Dr Vanessa von Auer, Clinical Director and Clinical Psychologist at Von Auer Psychology Center, said that people in this age group also attempt to solidify their identity as an adult and contemplate future goals, which can be “confusing, stressful and anxiety-provoking”.

This is because juggling other facets of life, such as tertiary education, work, family and social commitments, at the same time “may not always be successful”, she said.

Dr von Auer said the increase in suicides among this age group was “alarming”. “It is important that the public knows that many people experience depression and suicidal thoughts in their lives and that suffering in silence is not the answer. Things can improve if they seek support from loved ones and/or professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists,” she added.