The number of suicides among people aged 60 and over is up. As the population ages, more and more people live alone. Fear of becoming a burden to family, social disconnection, solitude, physical impairment and deteriorating mental health are the most common factors.
Singapore (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The number of elderly people committing suicide in Singapore reached a record high last year, a non-government group said.
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), which focuses on suicide prevention, said the number of people aged 60 and above who took their own lives in 2017 rose to 129, the highest on record, accounting for nearly 36 per cent of the city-state’s total number of suicides for that year.
“There is imminent need for stronger support networks as the number of elderly Singapore residents living alone continues to increase,” said SOS executive director Christine Wong.
According to the association, fear of becoming a burden to family, social disconnection, solitude, physical impairment and deteriorating mental health were the most common challenges faced by the elderly.