SUICIDE in SINGAPORE Dr Chia Boon Hock & Audrey Chia
PSYCHiatrY Updates UNIT NO. 6 SUICIDE IN SINGAPORE Dr Chia Boon Hock & Audrey Chia ABSTRACT SINGAPORE SUICIDE STATISTICS: 2000-2004 The aim of this article is to provide readers with a There were 1717 Singapore resident (citizen and permanent guide on how to assess suicide risk in Singapore. Often resident) suicides from 2000-2004. Thus, on an average, there it is not just one factor, but a combination of factors were approximately 350 suicides per year, or one suicide per which triggers a person to suicide. It is through the day. Most were aged between 25 and 59 (63.5%), with the understanding of these risk factors, that we can better youngest being 10 and the oldest being 102 years. In terms of assess the risk of suicide in our patients. suicide rates, these were highest in elderly Chinese males (40.3 per 100,000), and lowest in Malay females (1.8 per 100,000). SFP2010; 36(1): 26-29 During the same period, there were also 162 non-resident suicides (8.6%) consisting mainly of female Indonesian maids and male construction workers from India and Thailand. INTRODUCTION Suicide accounts for 2.2% of all death in Singapore. This Suicide is an international public health problem. Over a percentage is highest for young females aged 20-39 (18.5%) and million people kill themselves a year and more than half of young males also aged 20-39 (14.2%) where deaths from other these occur in Asia1. Suicide rates are calculated as number of causes (e.g. heart attack, strokes and cancers) are uncommon.
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