The Unknown Trend Within Elderly Suicides In Singapore

The number of elderly suicides in Singapore has been increasing at an alarming rate. There were 129 elderly, defined as age 60 and above, who took their lives in 2017– a historic high since suicide numbers started to be recorded in 1991. Although the elderly only make up about 15% of the entire population of Singapore, they contributed to 36% of the nation’s suicides in 2017. This is alarming in addition to the fact that the suicide numbers for every other age group fell, except the elderly.

Organisations such as the Samaritans of Singapore and Fei Yue Social Services have provided several reasons for such a phenomenon. One key factor leading to elderly suicide is social isolation. Elderly who commit suicide tend to be living alone or with their spouse. In today’s world, children spend less and less time with their aged parents, which increases the risk of social isolation and exacerbates the problem of loneliness for the elderly in Singapore. Furthermore, spending time with the elderly does not necessarily translate to making them feel happy or fulfilled.

What is surprising is the uneven split in suicides between males and females, within the elderly age group. From the data gathered, it is clear that elderly men contribute to the bulk of elderly suicides in Singapore. The trend has persisted from 2008 to recent years.

The truth is, elderly suicide is a gendered issue. On average, elderly men commit 2-3 times as many suicides as elderly women. It is a shocking statistic that seems to have remained untackled till today. What could be the reasons for such a problem and how can we help to stop this crisis?