Criminalisation of Suicides

The following question stood in the name of Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin –

23 To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) why does Singapore support the criminalisation of suicide and oppose its decriminalisation; (b) what is the psychological support provided after the Police arrests a person for attempting suicide, especially those who appear mentally unstable; (c) whether the cuffing of suicide attempters is beneficial to the psychological state of suicide attempters; and (d) what is the rehabilitation framework of admission, deterrence, treatment and aftercare phases available for those charged with and imprisoned for attempted suicide.

Mr Azmoon Ahmad (Nominated Member): On behalf of Ms Kuik, Question No 23.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Madam, it has been a criminal offence to attempt suicide. It was thought to be important that society should signal through the law that it opposes people taking their own lives but, in practice, prosecutions are rare.

Police officers try to respond to cases of attempted suicide with sensitivity and compassion. Persons who attempt suicide are emotionally and psychologically distressed. They are literally at the brink. When responding to such cases, the priority of the Police is to ensure the person's safety. Police Officers try to look out for signs of suicidal tendencies and take this into consideration in their response.

As regards arrests, Police arrest persons for cases of attempted suicide, usually to prevent them from doing harm, either to themselves or to others. When it is assessed that there is no such risk, they may not be arrested.

When an arrest is made, Police Officers use handcuffs when the assessment is that there is a need to ensure the safety of the person, prevent the person from further self-harm, prevent the person from causing harm to escorting officers or members of the public in the vicinity, or to prevent the person from absconding.

For all cases of attempted suicide, the Police will recommend the appropriate follow-up. The Police may refer the person to the Samaritans of Singapore for counselling or engage the next-of-kin to assist in supporting and caring for the person. If there are clear signs indicating possible mental instability, the Police may refer the person to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for an assessment of the person's mental state. If deemed necessary by medical professionals, the person may subsequently be warded at IMH for care and treatment.

As I said earlier, prosecutions are rare. In 2015, two persons were prosecuted for attempting suicide, out of 1,096 reported cases of attempted suicide. Imprisonments are even rarer. In the five years over 2011 to 2015, five persons who were charged for attempted suicide were imprisoned.

Prison inmates who are observed to exhibit suicidal tendencies will be referred to a psychiatrist for assessment. A multidisciplinary approach is adopted and psychologists or counsellors may be involved in the management and care of the inmate.

Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), work closely with partners in the social services sector on programmes for public education, suicide prevention and support.

Madam, everyone has a part to play in paying attention to warning signs of suicidal tendencies of the people around us, especially family and friends. We should not hesitate to refer those who need support to the services that are available.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Louis Ng.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Madam, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. Can I check whether this policy is cast in stone or whether the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will consider reviewing it with the view of decriminalising attempted suicide?

Mr Desmond Lee: Madam, the Ministry is prepared to review the position, but in so doing, we must recognise that this is not a straightforward exercise. We need to make sure that we do not inadvertently send the signal that we no longer believe that it is wrong to take one's own life.

We also do not want a situation where law enforcement agencies and emergency services which respond to a crisis situation where a person is attempting to take his life, in that very delicate situation, you want to make sure that those emergency services have the power and the ability to respond and to intervene. And subsequently, to have the appropriate powers to provide support to make the necessary referrals of the individual to the various help and medical services available.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Desmond Choo.

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines): One point of clarification. Can I check if MHA provides specialist training for its officers when it comes to managing such offenders at the point of arrest, and at subsequent investigations?

Mr Desmond Lee: Sorry, can the Member repeat the question? I was lost as I was walking —

Mr Desmond Choo: I just wanted to check with the Senior Minister of State whether MHA provides its officers with specialist training to manage such offenders at the point of arrest and at subsequent investigations.

Mr Desmond Lee: Madam, Police Officers are trained to respond to cases of attempted suicide in a sensitive manner. They are given training, as part of their basic training, to look out for signs of suicidal tendencies, as well as the "do's" and "don'ts" in dealing with persons with such tendencies. But we recognise that when officers respond to the scene, they do not have full information of what is going on. We train them to be able to assess that this is a case of attempted suicide and to be able to handle this delicately.

But the response to suicide risks and suicide attempts is, from the Government's perspective, one that involves a multi-prong strategy. Suicide prevention and early detection and intervention by the family, community and by health agencies, whether Government, voluntary welfare organisations or non-government organisations, are critical. Different Ministries, such as MSF, the Ministry of Education and MOH, work closely with stakeholders in the social services sector on suicide prevention initiatives. These programmes try to build greater resilience in the population, develop targeted intervention for high-risk individuals, and increase public awareness on mental health issues. The social services sector has an important role to play.

A couple of months ago, a couple of officers and I visited the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). It undertakes regular public education efforts —

Mdm Speaker: Senior Minister of State, can you keep your reply short. We are running out of time.

Mr Desmond Lee: Yes, Madam. It undertakes regular public education efforts to raise public understanding of suicides and available avenues for help. It also runs a 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline. So, all in, it is a whole-of-community, whole-of-Government effort.

3.57 pm

Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]