Stable family is foundation for suicide prevention

I refer to the letter “LGBT youth at higher risk of suicide, more support needed” (April 29).

The Ministry of Education (MOE), in a parliamentary reply in October, stated that youth suicides “often occur due to a combination of reasons”, including family problems, relationship difficulties, difficulties in coping with challenges and mental health issues.

The MOE emphasised that each school has a referral system that facilitates early and systematic identification of students with difficulties.

Teachers look out for changes in students’ behaviour and provide the first line of intervention to assist students with more immediate concerns. Students are urged to be supportive of one another and to encourage their friends to seek help from a trusted adult when they encounter difficulties.

Cases requiring further support are referred to school counsellors and the Institute of Mental Health’s community mental health teams for assessment and further intervention.

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), a secular non-profit organisation that provides 24-hour confidential emotional support to people who have difficulty coping during a crisis, who are thinking of suicide or affected by suicide, is the only suicide prevention centre here.

It said last year that depression, issues relating to family ties and boy-girl relationship issues were the top three problems faced by youth below 30 years old, who comprised 24 per cent of all suicides in 2013 (“Rise in proportion of youth committing suicide”; July 31).

Suicidal youth pointed to family relationships as the most common problem leading to intense distress and suicidal thoughts.

Counsellors from the SOS and other organisations pointed out the importance of effective communication and understanding among family members in building a stable family structure that empowers youth to cope positively with the stressors of life.

Youth suicides, like any form of suicide, affect the community, in particular the youths’ families and friends. This serious issue cannot be attributed to one particular factor. Let us not sensationalise it or use it as propaganda for any agenda.

Suicide is an indicator that stresses the need to find out the root causes of distress. A stable family structure is the foundation we can work on towards suicide prevention.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/stable-family-foundation-suicide-prevention