SUICIDES AMONG INDIAN WOMEN

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Minister for Community Development and Sports (a) how many Indian women have committed suicide each year from 2000 to 2002; (b) whether the figure is a disproportionate representation; and (c) what are some of the measures his ministry is exploring to help the community.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The number of Indian women who committed suicide was eight in 2000, 11 in 2001 and 16 in 2002. In the last three years, out of the total number of women who committed suicide in Singapore, the average proportion of Indian women who committed suicide was about 8.4%.

The reasons for suicide are multi-faceted and often inter-related. The most common reasons are poor health, depression, relationship problems, financial problems and mental illness. Whatever the reasons, we must do our best to prevent suicides and see to it that there are enough channels for women to turn to if they need to talk to someone about their problems.

For example, counselling services are readily available at the Family Services Centres which are located in the heartlands. The Samaritans of Singapore has a 24-hour crisis hotline for those who need help or just a listening ear. Treatment programmes are available at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to help those with psychiatric disorders or depression. Social service agencies, Polyclinics and General Practitioners can make referrals to the IMH as and when necessary.

The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) organises suicide prevention programmes annually. This September, the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) will be jointly organising with SOS, a talk in Tamil on suicide prevention. SINDA also plans to disseminate information on how to get help for someone who has suicidal tendencies through the media such as the Tamil radio station. My ministry applauds such pro-active measures to reach out to the community on sensitive issues.

More importantly, friends and relatives who notice that their loved ones could be at risk of suicide or manifesting suicidal tendencies should seek help to prevent such mishaps from happening. The public may contact these agencies for help if they know anyone who may be at risk for committing suicide:

Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-2214444 (24-hour crisis hotline)

Family Services Centre: 1800-8380100

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-2837019

Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) 1800-7745935