DATA ON SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES AMONG SENIORS ABOVE 60

NOTICE PAPER NO. 201

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 4 NOVEMBER 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Jackson Lam

MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 749

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what are the suicide and attempted suicide rates among seniors aged 60 and above over the past five years, disaggregated by age, gender, race, and housing type; (b) whether the Ministry have identified common psychosocial factors and if so, what are they; and (c) how existing mental health and social care programmes are tailored for elderly suicide prevention.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 237

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 6 NOVEMBER 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Dr Choo Pei Ling

MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC

Question No. 599

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what are the number of seniors aged above 60 who had attempted or committed suicide in the last three years; (b) what were the main reasons; and (c) what programmes are in place to address this problem.

Answer

1            My answer will also address the written Parliament Question raised by Dr Choo Pei Ling, scheduled for a future sitting. I would invite the Member to ask supplementary questions, if any. If the question has been satisfactorily answered, it may not be necessary for the Member to proceed with the Question for future sitting.

2            Data on suicide cases by age and gender among those aged 60 and above is publicly released in the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on an annual basis. Breakdown by race and housing type is not available. The annual number of suicide cases for elderly has generally declined over the last five years; male suicide deaths has been about double of female suicide deaths. There is currently no comprehensive data source for suicide attempts.

3            Suicide is multi-factorial and usually not due to any single cause. A recent study  on suicide by IMH had identified a combination of risk factors such as relationship breakdowns, having a mental health condition, as well as prior suicide attempts.

4            The national mindline 1771 and SOS Hotline 1767 provide 24/7 help and crisis support for those in mental distress, including seniors. The Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care proactively identifies vulnerable seniors, and connects them to community mental health teams for assessment, emotional support and counselling where needed. For those at risk of loneliness and social isolation, they are referred to Active Ageing Centres for active ageing programmes and befriending services.