Disturbing Suicide Findings

On average, suicide is responsible for one death a day in Singapore.

Alarming findings from the Asia Pacific conference on suicide prevention were reported in the media yesterday.

It brought back tragic memories of this double suicide case I had reported before.

It happened sometime last year.

A man had jumped from a block of flats. Her pregnant girlfriend told me that he was in debt and was worried he would not have enough money to feed the baby. Shockingly, about two months after that, the girlfriend followed suit and jumped from the same block of flats.

I could not believe it when I found out. The lady was still safe and sound and talking to me coherently sometime ago. What was it that she could not handle and had to resort to seeking death? Was there no one she could turn to for help? Did her family not sense that she was at risk?

Permanent Secretary (Health) Yong Ying-I urged people who have direct contact with at-risk groups to help identify them early.

Indeed, with suicide as the top three causes of death among 15 to 35-year-olds, it is a significant health risk that should not be taken lightly.

Just two days ago, I was sent to a hotel in Orchard after a reader called and said a woman was sitting on the ledge of a 13th floor of the hotel.

When I arrived at the scene, I saw the woman sitting dangerously on the narrow ledge outside a hotel room (on the highest level) window. The police and the DART (Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) had arrived.

The lady looked so weak and so vulnerable. Sometimes she faced the inside of the wall, at other times she turned and faced the road, and even looked straight down.

A lady (probably her family member) and a policeman were seen talking to her from the window of the 13th floor hotel room. It is believed that they were trying to coax her to return to the hotel room but it was to no avail.

Finally, after about two hours since the “drama” started, the DART team managed to bring her to safety. Whew.

It was lucky that she was discovered early, and that rescue came in time. Many others ended in sad tales.

From 2000 to 2004, 1700 people had killed themselves, and up to 7 in 10 were affected by mental illness of one form or another.

For most the suicide cases I have seen/ heard of/ reported (not all were reported) so far, many suffered from depression.

A month ago, a woman jumped from a block of flats while her husband was sleeping. She crashed and landed on the parapet on the second storey. When I went up to the floor where she jumped, I saw that there was a chair, a pair of slippers and spectacles left neatly on the floor. That sight really pained my heart.

When one is alone and feels trapped, any problem, big or small, seems immense. But talking about it to someone else (your family members, friends or a counsellor) would probably help. You might even realize that things are not as bad as you think.

Recalling the double suicide tragedy, seek help if you are in need. It can prevent one or more tragedies.