YOUTH SUICIDES (National suicide prevention strategy)

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YOUTH SUICIDES:

(National suicide prevention strategy): 13.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) what kind of national suicide prevention strategy is the Government adopting to tackle the rising trend of youth suicides; (b) how effective will such a strategy be to prevent suicides; (c) what is the total projected economic loss to the nation for each successful youth suicide; and (d) will the Government introduce an easier '444' national hotline number for suicidal people to get help.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, there is no conclusive evidence from past statistics that there is a rising trend in youth suicides. However, each youth suicide is one too many.

Suicide is caused by a complex set of factors, including many socio-cultural factors. Tackling youth suicides requires a multi-agency and many-helping-hands approach. The Government’s multi-pronged strategy involves, firstly, working with parents, schools and the community on preventive measures to reduce suicidal tendencies. Secondly, working with professionals on intervention programmes to treat suicidal cases and, thirdly, raising

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public awareness about mental health and well-being.

Parents are the first source of support and care for the young. MCYS strives to build strong and stable families through our various schemes, programmes and initiatives, such as our series of family life education programmes. Schools engage the young in learning and developmental activities while teachers and school counsellors help to identify and support students in distress.

Health workers and social service professionals are trained to identify early and treat high-risk groups, such as youth in crisis. Treatment programmes available in our healthcare institutions include the Child Guidance Clinic under the Institute of Mental Health.

To increase public awareness of mental health issues and promotion of mental well-being, the "Mind Your Mind" programme was launched by the Health Promotion Board in the year 2001. The annual Suicide Prevention Week by the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) helps to increase understanding of suicidal thoughts and the avenues for help.

The Government does not perform projections of economic loss from suicide. Nonetheless, each suicide is a tragic loss. The loss is not just to the economy or society, but also from the perspective of what the youth could have done with his or her life. We would do what we can to prevent it.

The Member suggested that the Government should introduce an easier '444' national hotline number for suicidal people to get help. The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) has been running a 24-hour crisis hotline since 1969. The hotline 1800-2214444 operates to counsel anyone in distress, including

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those with suicidal tendencies or who just need someone to talk to.

Based on past cases, many youths who have contemplated suicide would have sought help or called the SOS hotline several times before actually attempting suicide. The key is therefore to have a hotline which a troubled youth can readily access, in this case, the 24-hour SOS hotline. On the other hand, a 3-digit number would be most useful for an emergency situation where the person is in acute distress. Members of the public who witness a youth attempting suicide should continue to call 999 or 995 for immediate help.

Having said that, Sir, hotlines should not be deemed as the only channel for suicidal people to seek help. Parents, teachers, peers and caring adults in constant contact with the youth can help in a more timely manner if the warning signs for those contemplating suicide are detected early and the young person is then referred to the support services available.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Sir, I hope that the Minister of State understands that suicide is basically an attempt to cry out for help. In that time, if they do not have an easy number to remember, like SOS' 1800-2214444 hotline, can they call 999 or 995 and be redirected to the SOS in the event that they are thinking of suicide?

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, the answer is yes. There is a network. The police and NPCs are trained to handle emergency calls and they are all connected with the emergency hotlines like the SOS'. There is a network of help providers. In emergency cases, the young person should be able to access help almost immediately. I think the most important point is that helplines are available, and often times people who attempt suicide would know where the

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helplines are. They would already have accessed those helplines before that, because it is not the first time. They do not think of suicide and do it immediately. There would be a whole range of calls that they would have made and a whole range of help that they would have asked for. Some would have received the help. But, sometimes, at that point in time that they make those decisions, it is very hard for us to understand. But the point I want to make is that there is help available when they access the police hotline. The police will make the necessary referrals.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 15-21, 23 and 26-28 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 14, 22, 24-25 and 29-30 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament.]

• Cols. 1805-1820.