Number of suicides here down to lowest since 2000

32.4% decline in 2023 from the year before; figures have dropped across every age group

- Syarafana Shafeeq

A total of 322 suicides were reported in Singapore in 2023 – a 32.4 per cent drop from 2022 and the lowest such figure since 2000.

It was also the first time that the number of suicides dropped across every age group, suicide prevention charity Samaritans of Singapore said in a statement on July 12.

Observers and experts say greater mental health support and spotlight on the issue could be contributing factors to the decline.

This comes after 2022’s record high of 476 cases, the highest since the Samaritans started recording suicide data in 2000. Of the deaths by suicide in 2023, almost 69 per cent, or 222, of the cases were male. Suicide was also the leading cause of death for young people aged between 10 and 29.

Associate Professor Daniel Fung, chief executive of the Institute of Mental Health, said: “There has been substantial work from cross-sectoral agencies, from hospitals to social service agencies, on suicide prevention.”

He added: “Besides the Government’s resources and community programmes, I think it is important that we all play a part to prevent suicide by looking out for one another, and developing mental health literacy, to better support ourselves and those we care about.”

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Samaritans said it could not pinpoint the drop to any one specific reason as suicide is complex and multifaceted.

Apart from scaling up its own community-based programmes, it said there has been increased mental health awareness via campaigns and several other government and community initiatives.