Ron Lam slams gov’t for inaction on suicide crisis

Concerned about the recent rise in suicides and attempted suicides in Macau, which has sparked public alarm over a deepening crisis, legislator Ron Lam yesterday urged the government to abandon its current “ostrich policy.”

An “ostrich policy” refers to the deliberate avoidance of reality or refusal to confront an obvious problem, drawing from the popular myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when faced with danger.

“Society must prioritize the issue of suicide by studying and analyzing its causes and trends,” Lam stated during yesterday’s Legislative Assembly session.

However, he noted that the government’s current data is inadequate. For example, the Health Bureau (SSM) releases suicide monitoring reports quarterly, but only categorizes cases by gender and residency status, offering only broad age ranges without deeper insight.

“I understand that depression can be contagious, but this has become an excuse for relevant government departments to ignore the problem in recent years,” he criticized.

Citing figures from the Secretary for Security, Lam stressed the urgent need to address Macau’s suicide crisis. According to him, there were 91 suicide deaths in 2024, equating to a suicide rate of 13.6 per 100,000 people – significantly higher than the international average of about 9 to 10 per 100,000.

Compared to 9.4 per 100,000 in 2015, Macau’s suicide rate has increased by 44% over the past decade.

Lam highlighted a worrying trend of increasing suicides and attempts among younger age groups.

Last year, there were four suicide cases among children aged 5 to 14 – the first time in a decade this number exceeded one – along with nine cases among those aged 15 to 24. Of the 249 suicide attempts in 2024, individuals aged 5 to 24 accounted for an average of 40% over the past five years.

He also criticized the government’s use of broad age brackets – such as 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 – in reporting statistics, arguing that this obscures the specific circumstances facing minors. “The lack of transparency complicates efforts to fully assess student mental health,” he said.

Lam acknowledged the government’s commitment to the principle that “prevention is better than cure,” but emphasized that residents are increasingly concerned about the lack of timely support for those experiencing emotional distress. He called for concrete measures to tackle the issue more directly.

He argued that the government’s “ostrich policy” has left frontline personnel under-resourced and reactive.

“There are no consistent intervention strategies to ensure that individuals receive ongoing emotional and mental health support. Even in cases of persistent suicidal behavior, frontline staff can only scramble to respond passively – highlighting the current system’s inability to manage suicide risk effectively.”

Early yesterday morning, the body of an elderly female resident was discovered floating near Sai Van Lake. At 8:31 a.m., the Judiciary Police (PJ) issued a statement outlining their response to the discovery.

Following a notification from the Fire Services Bureau, PJ personnel retrieved the body and transported it to a nearby pier for examination. Preliminary investigations revealed no signs of foul play.

The IAS encourages residents to remain conscious of their psychological and emotional wellbeing, as well as the health of relatives and friends. If in need, residents can call Caritas’ Life Hope hotline (28525222) or IAS’ counseling hotline (28261126).