Project Hayat ("life" in Malay) is a white paper for national suicidal prevention strategies guided by participatory action research (PAR). It was an initiative by SG Mental Health Matters and a community-led collective effort founded by Anthea Ong and others with lived experience like Dr Rayner Tan, a public health academic, that was presented on World Suicide Prevention Day, Tuesday, 10 September 2023. This was aligned with recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
On World Suicide Prevention Day 2024, Channel NewsAsia interviewed Dr Rayner Tan and suicide survivor Reshii Varma about the project.
Background[]
Suicide prevention is one of the most pressing public health challenges facing Singapore today. Each life lost to suicide is a profound tragedy, impacting families, friends and communities in ways that are both searing and lasting.
All three of the co-leads of the Project Hayat Working Group - Anthea Ong, Dr Jared Ng, Dr Rayner Tan had been personally affected by suicide in different ways, as well as been involved with suicide prevention efforts at many levels. They were also members of the community group, SG Mental Health Matters, that sought to inform and educate the public on mental wellbeing and mental healthcare policies. As a follow up to the 2020 adjournment motion Working Together Towards A Zero-Suicide Singapore by then Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong, they formed Project Hayat by bringing together a working group of diverse stakeholders for a collective and participatory research effort to develop a white paper on a national suicide prevention strategy. They launched Project Hayat on 10 September 2023, also World Suicide Prevention Day.
The strategies that the working group outlined in the white paper represented the first output of their collective effort to develop a national framework for coordinated actions to support and add on to current suicide prevention efforts in Singapore, including those outlined in the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. These evidence-informed recommendations were a foundation upon which they could and must build, with the understanding that the rewards of their work would not be immediate. They were the seeds they planted that would grow into trees of hope, resilience, and support for Singapore's future generations.
To address the ‘wicked problem’ of suicide, collaboration and cooperation were essential, as they allowed then to capture both individual experiences and collective wisdom. No single party could tackle this complex issue alone.
They were immensely grateful to the many individuals and organisations who contributed their time, effort, and insights to make Project Hayat possible. From members of the Working Group to the participants of the focus group discussions (FGDs) and direct stakeholder interviews, their contributions were invaluable.
Throughout the FGDs and interviews, they were moved and humbled by the passion and commitment of individuals both within and outside their working group. THey heard from people whose lives had been touched by suicide — those who had lost loved ones, and those who themselves had struggled with suicidal thoughts. They also heard from those who worked tirelessly on the frontlines — healthcare professionals, social workers, crisis responders, educators, and various community leaders—who engaged daily with individuals at risk of suicide. Their stories and experiences strengthened their resolve to ensure that every person in Singapore had access to the support and resources they needed.
It is only with their generosity and courage in sharing, with the commitment of the working group, that they are able to develop this comprehensive white paper that reflected the diverse needs and experiences of the Singapore community. Employing a modified Delphi method in building consensus in the Working Group to co-create the recommendations, the strategies outlined in the document were designed to be dynamic and responsive to the needs of society. They resolved to remain vigilant in continuously improving and adapting our approaches based on the latest research and feedback from the community.
Suicide prevention required a multi-faceted approach - one that was rooted in love, kindness, and compassion. It was not enough to address the immediate crisis, one must also work to change the societal conditions that contributed to suicidal behavior. This included fostering a culture where mental health and suicide prevention was openly discussed, where seeking help was seen as a strength rather than a weakness, and where every individual felt valued and supported. They were delighted to make good their promise to Singapore and Singaporeans to launch the white paper on 10 September 2024, World Suicide Prevention Day.
Project Hayat was just the beginning. As much as they were excited about the potential for these strategies outlined in this white paper to effect change, they also recognised that this was a long-term systemic endeavour. The impact of this collective effort may not be fully realised for years to come but the Working Group, the research participants and the suicide prevention community at large, were committed to this journey. Together, they felt that they could and must work towards a Singapore where every life is valued, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, where suicide is no longer seen as the only option.
See also[]
References[]
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SCrhSd_eVHiH3jlvWRPkhNMIVRO04xYK/edit
- https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/suicide-prevention-strategy-mental-health-project-hayat-4601151
- https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/national-strategy-needed-to-prevent-suicides-singapore-mental-health-working-group
- https://sgmentalhealthmatters.com/suicide-prevention
- https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/singapore-residents-invited-participate-public-consultation-suicide-prevention-4476206
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sgmentalhealthmatters_project-hayat-white-paper-launched-on-10-activity-7239604867294494720--kqM/
- https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/number-of-suicides-in-singapore-drops-in-2023-lowest-since-2000
- https://www.todayonline.com/features/not-mental-illness-suicide-helpline-volunteers-2480931
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antheaong_is-feeling-deeply-grateful-that-we-kicked-activity-7112380540636315648-iQ5n/
- https://blog.nus.edu.sg/thecouragelab/projects/
- https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/half-sporeans-dont-know-how-tap-suicide-support-services
- https://medium.com/@danielcfng/how-ai-can-help-address-suicidal-tendencies-in-project-hayat-and-beyond-d7c6cc9498af
- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1115454276692611&id=100046841471656&set=a.221218692782845
- https://www.reddit.com/r/SingaporeRaw/comments/1fey02j/some_suicide_stats_from_project_hayat/
Acknowledgements[]
This article was written by Roy Tan.