Jane* , an SOS volunteer in her 30s, happened to be on shift at its office in 10 Cantonment Close, when the man called 1800 221 4444 around midnight. Over the phone, the man admitted that he had checked into the room alone for a reason: he planned to end his life by overdosing on pills.
The SOS helpline is one of the few helplines in Singapore that provides round-the-clock assistance to those in distress, including the Institute of Mental Health’s Crisis Helpline . Upon completion, these volunteers need to dedicate three to four hours a week and one overnight duty a month. They must also commit to volunteer for at least two years.
In FY2017/2018 alone, the helpline received 33,604 calls, approximately one call every 15 minutes. But there are ones that go unheard, given the manpower restrictions. 44 per cent were made by individuals relating stressful life events, such as the death of a celebrity, but did not indicate having suicidal thoughts.
“It is also a time when people are left alone by themselves to reflect. Rumination of negative events and emotions may be amplified due to the perception of a lack of support and companionship during this time,” she added. ‘Most meaningful work’In 2017, there were 361 reported suicides in Singapore, the lowest since 2012, statistics released by SOS last year show. Despite the drop, the number of elderly individuals aged 60 and above who took their own lives rose to a record 129 in the same year.
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