Video: Keith Chua calls for more resources to prevent suicide in LGBT & other groups in 2025 budget debate

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On Thursday, 27 February 2025, during the Parliamentary debate on Singapore's Budget 2025, Nominated Memeber of Parliament, Keith Chua, called for more resources to be devoted to the prevention of suicide in the LGBT community and other vulnerable groups so that no one is left behind.
Transcript:
Three other vulnerable groups identified in the white paper include the elderly caregivers and LGBTQ Community recommendations for vulnerable groups in the white paper include strengthening governance and policy involving communities of people at risk of suicide and those with lived experience of suicide in all aspects of policymaking and implementation of Suicide Prevention policies a key feature of Suicide Prevention efforts across the world is to ensure that people who have been affected by Suicide are involved in all aspects of Suicide Prevention including policy implementation research and advocacy involving individuals who belong to communities at greater risk of suicide survivors of suicide and those who have lived experiences of suicide is essential in bridging gaps in suicide prevention we need to Value data and research investing in research on the Upstream determinants of suicide amongst the vulnerable groups and to conduct further research to determine additional priority groups in Singapore there's a strong link between Upstream factors and social data perence that heighten suicide risk among vulnerable groups and those who are experiencing loneliness or hopelessness in their lives more research is required on priority populations that are at greater risk of mental health challenges solve injury or suicide and to develop evidence-based interventions that are tailored for these respective communities another recommendation is to involve families and and communities strengthening Family Support initiatives to manage mental health and suicide prevention and strengthening collaboration with religious and Community leaders Family Programs Family Focus programs should be developed to equip equip families with Knowledge and Skills to recognize early signs of distress facilitate open and supportive communication and offer practical strategies to assist loved ones facing mental health struggles as trust that figures within communities religious and Community leaders hold significant influence and often seen as sources of support and guidance making them well positioned to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide leaders can foster an envir an an environment of compassion understanding and acceptance to reduce stigma as well as play a key role in identifying individuals at risk and providing timely support support schools and Educators and here uh more specifically to adolescents establish Suicide Prevention protocols in schools for suicide prevention crisis response and postvention support in in focused group discussions conducted under project haatt participants have expressed concern that School staff counselors and teachers may be insufficiently equipped to provide psychological support or conduct suicide risk assessments for students in need it was also found that many Educators May lack the necessary training to identify warning signs manage crisis or intervene effectively in suicide related situations leaving a critical Gap in the support network for vulnerable students by developing in and implementing clear protocols and comprehensive training programs schools can ensure that Educators school counselors and students are better are are better prepared to respond to Suicide risks and this would include in uh this would in involve equipping School staff with the tools to recognize early signs of distress intervene appropriately and provide ongoing support to students facing mental health challenges Madam speaker as this is a budget for All singaporeans We Must continue to find ways to adequately support the many vulnerable groups where these are not yet in place I have covered those with mental health conditions persons with Disability and Special Needs caregivers and propose more propose for more to be done to prevent suicide we will need to work together government and Society to ensure no one is Left Behind.

Links:

https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Discrimination_against_homosexuals_in_Singapore