Teen suicides highest in 15 years but overall rate falls: SOS, Singapore News

Every month last year, more than two young people aged 10 to 19 killed themselves. The year's total of 27 was twice as many as the year before and the highest in 15 years. The rate also stands in contrast with the overall reported suicide rate in Singapore, which last year was at its lowest since 2012. Helplines Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019Institute of Mental Health's Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800 Troubled young people who reach out to suicide prevention agency Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) cite mental health issues, academic pressure, and relationship problems at home and in school as their greatest source of stress. The number of suicides in this group has risen even as the group itself is shrinking, declining by 7.1 per cent since 2012, thus underscoring the increasing urgency of identifying and helping children at risk, said experts.

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Depressive thoughts can become suicidal ones, Singapore News Alienated. Helpless. Hopeless. These are some of the sentiments expressed by those who have suffered or are suffering from depression. For some, those sentiments may develop into thoughts of self-harm or, when all seems lost, attempts to take their own lives. A recent report from the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) revealed that even though suicide rates last year were the lowest since 2012, the number of suicides by those aged 10 to 19 hit a 15-year high of 27. TOUCH Cyber Wellness Homepage We are Singapore’s pioneering and leading non-profit agency in advocating cyber wellness and new media literacy for children, teenagers, parents and educators. TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW), through cutting-edge and relevant strategies, advocates respect, a balanced lifestyle and responsible use of digital technologies to help families grow together in the digital age. Winner of the Singapore Youth Awards 2011

More teen suicides, parents must manage expectations, Latest Singapore News Only 12, but he wanted to kill himself. Tim (not his real name) had failed to enter his desired stream in his primary school. The disappointment sent him into a downward spiral and his confused parents took him to see a counsellor, thinking he was simply being naughty and rebellious. They did not know he wanted to end his life. The Effects of Social Media on Children The Effects of Social Media on Children By Angela Barnes and Christine Laird Social media is quickly evolving in front of our eyes and it is almost impossible to reject and hide from this new form of media. Not only is it an important part of socialization within peer groups but now it is used to market and motivate people to become a part of a larger community. It is undeniably changing the way one communicates and how one finds and shares information. Most websites offer communication through the use of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and many various blog formats.

Victims of cyber bullying 'easily turn into tormentors', Singapore News One in nine adolescents said they have been victims of cyber bullying and close to half of them have, in turn, bullied others online, a large-scale study has found. The study, which surveyed 3,319 students aged 12 to 17 from 28 schools, was done by the Singapore Children's Society and the Institute of Mental Health in 2014. Some 40 per cent of victims said they also cyber-bullied others. More children and teens are stressed out, Health News Last year, a Primary 5 pupil fell 17 floors from his bedroom window on the day he was supposed to take his exam papers home. He had never fared poorly in his examinations from Primary 1 to 4, and scored an average of 70 marks. His mother would cane him on his palm "lightly" for every mark he fell short of her stipulated standard of 70 per cent. But he failed his Higher Chinese and mathematics in his latest mid-year exam. Out of 100 marks, he scored 50 for English, 53.8 for Chinese and 57.5 for science. This case shows what too much stress can lead to.