Depressed elderly males are the ones most likely to attempt suicide.
Unlike women, men often do not seek treatment for their conditions until they become severe. They are also more prone to depression. Unlike elderly women who often care for grandchildren and do household chores, men find themselves at a loss after retirement.
Half of IMH's walk-in cases have thought about dying
About 40 patients walk through the doors of the Institute of Mental Health's (IMH) emergency department in Buangkok View every day. Of these, almost half would have entertained some form of suicidal thought or action. Five would have made serious suicide attempts.
They are brought in by the police or family members, or are referred by hospitals.
One afternoon in 2005, he drove his taxi to a spot near the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, then ran up the bridge and jumped, hoping to end his life.
But he survived, though he suffered broken ribs and injuries to his face.
Last year, 374 people here committed suicide. But for every suicide, there are about seven unsuccessful bids, say counsellors.
Suicide is a crime under Section 309 of the Penal Code. Last year, the police arrested 706 people for attempted suicide, a drop from 747 in 2006 and 870 in 2005. In 2004 and 2003, there were 745 and 685 cases respectively. Counsellors say there are many more cases of unreported suicide attempts.
Every time the police receive a suicide alert, officers are sent to the scene. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is also alerted and deploys an ambulance equipped with an inflatable life pack, rescue nets and ropes, among other things.
About 90per cent of suicides here involve people leaping from tall buildings.
Officers often cast rescue nets over window ledges to prevent the person from jumping and may even rappel down buildings to pull victims to safety. A life pack is usually set up at the foot of the building to cushion a fall.
Between April last year and this March, the emergency squad of the suicide prevention group, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), was activated 108 times, mostly by the police.
Each time, two members were sent to the scene to persuade the person not to end his life. 'Our role is to persuade them, to stabilise them and to talk them down safely,' said SOS deputy director Tan-Lee Yoke Yin.
Of the 108 alerts, seven were to attend to people who were highly suicidal and about to end their lives. The rest were calls seeking their support for 'suicide survivors' - family and friends of those who had died.
The SCDF says the majority who attempt suicide are talked out of it by family members, counsellors, police or SCDF rescue crews.
Of the 706 arrested last year, only 11 were charged in court. The state presses charges only in three circumstances:
When the person keeps trying to kill himself;
When a lot of resources are wasted in preventing him from taking his life; or
Where the person trying to kill himself has committed other offences in the process, such as injuring another person.
Offenders can be jailed up to a year or fined $10,000 or both.
The police may also encourage them to seek counselling and refer them to the Institute of Mental Health for treatment.
