In Singapore, suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 10–29.
According to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), 2019 saw three times more deaths from suicide than transport accidents; 400 lives were lost to suicide that year. Anyone can imagine the pain of losing a loved one to suicide and barely swallow the thought.
Yet, the road is definitely not easy for those suffering from suicidal thoughts. It can be hard for them to fathom the prospect of a better life; many don’t actually want to end their lives but seek an escape from the state of their lives at the moment.
It is easier said than done for them to pull themselves out from that headspace, however. Many need a helping hand to guide them along—that’s where Caring for Life (CFL) comes in.
Charity Set up by Mental Health Advocate Trains Community in Suicide Prevention
Set up in April 2020, CFL is a local charity that aims to establish a community approach to suicide prevention. Founded by mental health advocate Dr Sally Thio alongside philanthropists Keith Chua and Hsieh Fu Hua, it trains the community to respond appropriately to people having suicidal thoughts.
CFL’s vision is “to establish a community approach to early identification of suicide ideation and care, by implementing initiatives, including the development and piloting of a curriculum for suicide prevention.”
CFL aims to complement existing suicide prevention provisions. Mr Chua, CFL’s board chairman, said that CFL’s intention was not to “duplicate the existing services in this area.”
Rather, he corrected, CFL’s role is in the “early intervention and prevention category, where a lot more can be done.”
CFL also seeks to build “supportive communities who understand the importance of mental wellness resilience, are familiar with early signs of suicide ideation, and know-how to link one identified with needs to resources and support available.”
The LIFE Programme
Since August 2020, CFL has trained more than 300 participants from different organisations through a specially curated programme called LIFE.
Standing for Listen, Inquire directly, Find lifelines, and Engage professional help, LIFE teaches participants to recognise signs of suicidal ideation at workplaces, homes, and schools.
LIFE aims to train people from all walks of life, such as caregivers of suicide attempt survivors or those with suicide ideation, grassroots leaders, faith-based organisations, and even the general public.
LIFE also emphasises the need for safety when engaging in conversations that promote openness when addressing suicide.
“Because of stigma, many people with mental health issues are not seeking professional help,” said Mr Chua. “We hope CFL’s programme will help the community gain a better understanding and also enable those who are not yet seeking proper help to do so in time.”
Dr Thio sought, in particular, to highlight the community aspect of the LIFE programme.
“We tend to do better with a strong social network of friends and family,” she explained. “As such, I am led to believe that suicide prevention efforts must involve the community, especially the loved ones and close friends of the individuals-at-risk of suicide.”
Indeed, suicide involves more than just the person struggling with such thoughts. According to CFL, losing a loved one to suicide is ranked as one of life’s most painful experiences. It is important, then, to seek as much community engagement as possible when dealing with suicide.
CFL’s collaboration with the community has gone past individuals and groups. It has worked with several organisations as well, including the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), SOS, and SGFamilies.
Ms Carol Loi, co-founder of SGFamilies, attests to the efficacy of LIFE.
“The programme helped me better understand how to broach the difficult topic of suicide and recognise that bringing the issue out in the open is helpful.”
She participated in LIFE to support those struggling with suicidal ideation and their next-of-kin.
Yet, CFL was the product of a tragic story.
The Sad Inspiration Behind CFL
When she was still an early volunteer with families in crisis, Dr Thio met a young girl who had been separated from her father and sister. She was struggling to cope with both her parents’ divorce and her upcoming exams.
One fateful night, Dr Thio received a phone call from the girl, who wanted to treat her to breakfast the next morning. The girl had seemed to be in a good mood, and wanted to meet up because “everything [was] better.”
Unfortunately, Dr Thio soon found out that the reason the girl felt “better” that morning was because she had decided to end her life. That breakfast was the last time Dr Thio saw the girl.
That was the grim tragedy that sparked Dr Thio’s efforts to improve the lives of persons with mental health issues. After over 30 years of hard work and devotion, CFL was born.
But even with improvements in Singapore’s mental health sector over time, Dr Thio still remembers that young girl from years ago.
Her mind continues to be plagued with the same questions: “What else could I have done? What did I miss? What now?”
“If there is one thing I can take from that incident, it is this: I should have Listened and Inquired more, Found a Lifeline, and Engaged a Professional’s Help,” shared Dr Thio.
To find out more about CFL, click here or visit CFL’s website.
For anyone struggling with suicidal ideations or who knows of someone in need of help, please do contact the following helplines to seek the necessary support:
- National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868 (8:00am–12:00pm daily)
- Samaritans of Singapore (SOS): 1800-221 4444
- Singapore Association For Mental Health (SAMH): 1800-283-7019
- Institute of Mental Health (IMH)’s Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222
- Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
- Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928
- Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788
Feature Image: Chanintorn.v/ Shutterstock.com
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