Suicides by older folk on the rise again

I refer to the article ‘Suicides by older folk on the rise again’ (ST 20/05/07). The trend of old folks committing suicide is increasing and this has brought about the concern of the society.

While some experts believe fluctuations in suicides cases in a small country like Singapore is common, many disagree. It is believed that pain, loneliness, depression and financial problems are all factors that led to the thought of their lives. Through research, many saw retrenchment and retirement as the lost of hope in their lives. Single elderly are also at higher risk, as there is no one to share their woes with. But is this trend only accountable by their mindset?

I trust that the society should be indirectly responsible for this trend. Is our society opening up to the old folks’ needs? In our society, our lives are rushed through, fast forward. Old folks who retire lose their pace in life, feel that they cannot keep up, and become outcasts from the society. Forced into a corner, disconnected from the social world, negative thoughts would definitely arise. The increasing numbers of elderly singles also would not help, as they would be completely left out without companion.

But would plain organizing of programmes targeted at old folks be helpful? I doubt so.

Elderly feels that they have lost their importance in the society. Discriminated as outcast, they have come to the thinking that they are nothing but a burden in the society, giving themselves every reason to commit suicide. They grow tired of the world. They keep to themselves and finally, refuse to accept this world. A great help would definitely be at the most primary level, their families.

From self-based interviews, I realized that elderly who have a family to take care and be taken care of keeps a positive outlook because they play a part in their family. However, elderly singles wander around lifelessly, feeling unimportant or as they deem, ‘no worries’. Such mindset can only be changed from the environment. OPEN UP! As a society, we must be open-minded, and keep them connected with the society by interaction, making them feel important, let them feel wanted. Do we really have to face the consequences before realizing its importance?

Similarly, we should all open up to ideas in our lives. Stop getting cooped up in our own ideals and put our noses high above, we might just missed out that very little sparkle underneath. Accepting knowledge is part of knowledge as well. Creating awareness of our surroundings, get involved in connecting ideas. We can make a difference too, in the lives of the elderly, and anybody around us.