Measures to Ensure Suicides Rates Continue to Drop

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3058

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Ong Hua Han

Nominated MP

Question No. 6572

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what are the factors that contributed to the decrease in number of suicides from 476 in 2022 to 322 in 2023, the lowest in more than 20 years; and (b) what measures has the Ministry taken to continue reducing suicide rates.

Written Answer

1     The member is referring to data in the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2023 published by the Immigration & Checkpoints, which are provisional, and the finalised figures will be published next year. 

2     We adopt a whole-of-society approach to address the issue of suicide. We have run several public education campaigns, trained peer supporters and frontline personnel to support those with mental health needs, built up resilience among our youth and students, and expanded community mental health services and 24/7 crisis helplines. 

3     However, what is most important and hopefully starting to reduce the incidence of suicide, is to change societal attitudes, by normalising conversations around mental health and reducing stigma in seeking early help.