Student Suicides over Last 10 Years

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the statistics over the last 10 years for student suicides at the Primary, Secondary, tertiary and IHL levels; (b) what are the reasons behind the upward trend in student suicides as compared to the reasons for suicides of Singaporeans above 30 years old; and (c) whether and how parents, teachers and students are educated in spotting suicidal symptoms, destigmatising suicide and encouraging help-seeking behaviour.

Youth suicides and indeed any form of suicides, are painful to family members. Suicides among our students are also painful for our teachers and their fellow students. They often occur due to a combination of reasons. These include family problems, relationship difficulties, difficulties in coping with challenges and mental health issues.

In the last 10 years, the suicide rate in Singapore has fluctuated from year to year within a certain band. Statistics published by the birth and death registry of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) indicates that from 2004 to 2013, the number of suicide cases among those aged 19 and below ranged from 10 to 19 cases per year. The numbers include those who had left school.

Our schools take the well-being of every student seriously. Each school has a referral system that facilitates early and systematic identification of students with difficulties. Our teachers look out for changes in students' behaviour and provide the first line of intervention to assist students with more immediate concerns. Students are also encouraged to be supportive of one another and encourage their friends to seek help from a trusted adult when they encounter difficulties. Cases requiring further support are referred to the school counsellors and IMH’s community mental health3 teams for assessment and further intervention.

Schools seek to strengthen the mental well-being and resilience of students through:

(a) providing a caring and supportive school environment for students to develop healthy and positive relationships with teachers and friends;

(b) raising awareness of psychological well-being and equipping them with social and emotional skills. These include teaching them help-seeking skills and strategies to cope with challenges; and

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(c) providing a balanced and engaging curriculum that will enable students to develop holistically, explore their interests and discover their strengths.

Suicide is a complex problem for which there is no straight forward solution. We need to provide a strong network of support for our students. At the same time, we need to help them develop a positive outlook and the resilience to face the challenges of life. These will require parents, education institutions, community, media and other key stakeholders to work closely together.

MOE works closely with other Government agencies and community groups on prevention and intervention measures, such as peer support networks and mental health education packages. MOE also collaborates with MSF to organise parenting seminars and workshops to promote youth and children's mental well-being.