Actions against Persons for Attempted Suicides in 2015
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns inquiries by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang regarding the handling of 837 persons arrested for attempted suicide in 2015 and the impact of these measures. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam clarified that the primary goal of arrest is to ensure safety and provide help, noting only two out of 1,096 reported cases resulted in prosecution. Officers are trained to act with compassion, using handcuffs only when necessary for safety and referring individuals to the Institute of Mental Health or Samaritans of Singapore. While specific referral data is not maintained, the Minister stated that detention is restricted to the minimum time required for investigation and processing. Policy focus remains on ensuring that those in distress receive appropriate medical and psychiatric support rather than facing criminal charges for their actions.
Transcript
12 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs of the 837 persons taken into custody for attempted suicide in 2015 (a) what have been the specific measures used to arrest them; (b) how many have been placed in lock-up and for how long on average; (c) whether any investigations have been conducted to look into the actual impact of these measures on their well-being; and (d) how many of these persons have been referred to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) and Institute of Mental Health (IMH) respectively.
Mr K Shanmugam: Police Officers are trained to respond to cases of attempted suicide with sensitivity and compassion. Persons who attempt suicide are emotionally and psychologically distressed. When responding to such cases, the Police's priority is to ensure the person's safety. Police Officers will look out for signs of suicidal tendencies, and what actions to take. The Police usually arrest persons for attempting suicide in order to prevent them from doing harm, either to themselves or to others. In these cases, the Police Officers will make an assessment and apply handcuffs when there is a need to ensure the safety of the person, the escorting officers or members of the public in the vicinity, or to prevent the person from absconding.
For persons taken into custody, depending on their condition, they may be taken to the Police station for investigation, sent to the hospitals directly for medical treatment, referred to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for psychiatric treatment, or to the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) for counselling. The Police do not maintain data on the number of persons referred to IMH or SOS.
However, only two out of 1,096 cases of attempted suicide reported in 2015 were eventually prosecuted. The purpose of arrest is primarily to ensure that the person receives the appropriate help, and not to bring charges. For persons who are brought back to the Police station, the Police will not detain them longer than is necessary to investigate the case and to process the necessary referrals. The actual duration of detention depends on the circumstances of each case.