Why it's important to talk about suicide

Bringing topic into the open is paramount as it remains the leading cause of death among young people here

- Joyce Teo Senior Health Correspondent and Lee Li Ying Correspondent

Suicide is a subject which is often avoided - but that could be the last thing that someone who is expressing suicidal thoughts needs.

"When someone says, 'I'm going to kill myself', the usual response would be: 'You shouldn't say that' and it shuts them down," said Rui (not his real name), who is in his 30s and has struggled with suicidal thoughts.

Rui, who attends meetings with the Light in the Dark support group launched by Samaritans of Singapore, said he wishes people understood that suicidal thoughts are a painful, overwhelming reality for many, and not attempts at seeking attention.

"People who say 'I'm going to end it' are asking for help in the only way they can," he said.

Experts say the key is to treat ideation as a signal that support is needed.

People often think that asking loved ones in distress if they are suicidal might plant the idea in their heads, when the truth is that it might actually protect them, say experts.

There are many misconceptions around suicide, including that suicidal thoughts affect only individuals who have mental illnesses.

However, they can also occur in people who have not been formally diagnosed with a mental health condition, or, at least, are not known to have had a mental illness before their deaths, said Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, assistant chairwoman of the Institute of Mental Health's (IMH) medical board for research.

"In these cases, the trigger may be a major life event like humiliation, loss, failure or conflict, combined with poor coping resources, social isolation or a sense of being utterly overwhelmed," she said.

The risks may be even greater for adolescents.

A February study by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) found that young patients who had tried to hurt themselves typically did not have serious mental health disorders, but instead had psychosocial problems and emotional regulation difficulties.