SINGAPORE - A total of 452 suicides were reported in Singapore last year, the highest figure since 2012.
In a statement on Thursday (July 8), non-profit suicide prevention centre Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) said this was a 13 per cent increase from 2019 s 400 cases.
It added that the increase in suicide deaths was observed across all age groups. In particular, the number of suicide deaths among the elderly - aged 60 and above - hit 154, the highest recorded figure among this age group since 1991 and a 26 per cent increase from 2019.
SOS chief executive Gasper Tan said: Covid-19 has severely affected the nation s economy, lifestyle and mental health. We are extremely worried about how our elderly are coping during this public health crisis.
Suicide cases in Singapore highest in 8 years amid COVID-19 pandemic
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UW–Madison tool aids in equitable vaccine distribution
The demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to outpace supply, forcing public health officials to decide who should be first in line for a shot, even among those in the same pool of eligible vaccine recipients.
To assist these efforts, researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health have developed a tool that incorporates a person s age and socioeconomic status to prioritize vaccine distribution among people who otherwise share similar risks due to their jobs. The tool helps identify those who are at greater risk of severe complications or death from COVID-19.