The Macau SAR has recorded a total of 10 suicide cases (seven males and three females) from January to March this year, a decrease of 44.4% compared to the same period last year.
During the first quarter of 2021, nine local residents and one non-local resident committed suicide, the Health Bureau (SSM) indicated in a statement.
The newly released data shows a 52.4% plunge from the previous quarter.
Local psychologists the Times previously spoke to attributed the increase in anxiety and depression last year to the unemployment situation in the SAR due to the pandemic outbreak.
In a reply to the Times, Paul Pun, secretary-general of Caritas Macau, said that the charitable organization’s assistance hotline has received more calls quartering Q1 2021 than the first quarter of 2020.
According to data provided by Pun, residents seeking help through the hotline’s social media have increased, with a total of 208 calls recorded during the first quarter.
Last year, they only received 72 calls during the same period.
From January to March, the Life Hope Caritas recorded a total of 2,640 calls, 61 of which were of suicide risk.
During the same period last year, it received a total of 2,641 calls, of which 71 were concerning suicidal thoughts.
“However, from young people, we have received 72 assistance requests through our social media contact last year, of which three of them were suicidal. Last quarter, we have received 208 assistance requests through social media, of which 31 were suicide cases. Among them were 14 teenagers,” Pun explained.
“What the data tells us is that there are more cases related to teenagers. We try to assist them so that they won’t commit suicide. For the other adults, we also try to control and keep them from their suicidal thoughts,” he added.
When questioned on the reasons behind the teenagers’ cases, the official said that there were cases involving family problems and the pressure of study.
According to Pun, the recent calls they received from teenagers in the past two weeks were about suicidal thoughts, emotional issues and mental illness, as well as family problems.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, nearly 800,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide: or one suicide death every 40 seconds.
In order to help reduce the incidence of suicide, the SSM called on citizens to monitor their mental health and encourage people who are emotionally distressed to actively seek professional assistance.
The causes of suicide are complex and often involve several factors. Therefore, SSM reminds those suffering or facing difficulties to seek help from health professionals.
The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) encourages residents to be conscious of their psychological and emotional state as well as those of their relatives and friends. If in need, residents can call Caritas’ Life Hope hotline (28525222) or IAS’ counseling hotline (28261126).
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