In support of plan to decriminalise suicide attempts

NEWS that our government is studying ways to decriminalise suicide attempts in a bid to address a rise in such cases nationwide are indeed welcomed. Our National Health and Morbidity Study (2017) found that those planning to commit suicide rose to 7.3% in 2017 compared with 6.4% in 2012.

The study also revealed a rising trend in suicide among youths aged 13 to 17 – about 10% in 2017 had suicidal thoughts compared with 7.9% in 2012. These data mirror the World Health Organisation’s finding that suicide is among the 10 top causes of death globally.