Correlation between Suicide and Students' Anxiety Levels

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Education (Schools) how do the levels of suicides and incidences of psychiatric conditions related to anxiety among students in Singapore compare with similar data of other developed countries.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: In 2016, around five out of every 1,000 students were given counselling support in school to manage anxiety arising from academic stress. MOE does not have the data to compare psychiatric conditions.

There were 22 cases of suicide among those aged 19 and below in 2016, 27 cases in 2015, 13 cases in 2014 and 17 cases in 2013. These numbers include students in our schools and post-secondary institutions as well as those who are not in our education system.

In general our youth suicide rate is lower than other developed countries.