If you're in crisis right now
| Helpline | For | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) | 24-hour crisis support, in Mandarin too | 1767 · CareText (WhatsApp) 9151 1767 |
| National mindline | National mental health helpline & textline, 24 hours | 1771 |
| IMH Emergency Hotline | 24-hour psychiatric emergency line | 6389 2003 / 6389 2004 |
| National CARE Hotline | 24-hour emotional support | 1800 202 6868 |
| Emergency Services | Immediate danger to life | 995 |
You don't need to have a full plan or the right words. Calling and saying "I don't know why I'm calling, I just needed to talk to someone" is enough. These lines exist for exactly that.
If you're worried about someone
Many people worry that asking someone directly about suicidal thoughts will "put the idea into their head." Research consistently shows this isn't true — asking directly, gently, doesn't increase risk. It's often the thing that makes someone feel safe enough to say what they're actually carrying.
You don't need to be a trained professional to make a real difference. Most people who are struggling first confide in someone they already trust — a family member, friend, colleague, or neighbour — long before they see a professional. Listen without judgement, ask directly, and help them find the right support — whether that's one of the helplines above or a trained professional.
About Caring for Life
Caring for Life (CFL) is an Institution of a Public Character (IPC) in Singapore dedicated to advancing community-based suicide prevention. They work with government agencies, schools, workplaces, and community partners to equip people with practical skills to recognise distress, support others safely, and build resilient communities. Their vision is a future where the community is driven to prevent suicide and become suicide resilient.
CFL was founded in 2020 by Dr Sally Thio, with Keith Chua serving as the charity's first chairman. Founding team members also include Alex Yeo, now CFL's executive director. CFL works closely with the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS).
Kenneth is one of the funeral providers Caring for Life can call on when a family loses someone to suicide — so if that ever happens on their watch, there's already someone they trust in place to help the family through it.
Learn more about their training programmes and how to get involved via their website.
If you've lost someone to suicide
Losing someone to suicide is ranked among the most painful of all bereavements — it often carries grief, shock, guilt, and unanswered questions all at once, with no roadmap for how to carry it. There is no correct way to grieve this, and no timeline you're supposed to meet.
For the practical side — the police investigation, whether to hold a Coroner's Inquiry, registering the death, and planning the funeral — see What To Do After a Suicide Death in Singapore, a step-by-step guide built with Samaritans of Singapore's own guidance.
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) publishes a free guidebook, written with suicide loss survivors, walking through exactly this: the police investigation, whether to request a Coroner's Inquiry, registering the death, and planning the funeral — plus honest guidance on pacing yourself and handling other people's reactions. Read the SOS Death Administrative Matters Handbook (PDF).
And if it's the grief itself that's overwhelming, see Grief Support Singapore for free counselling and helplines, including bereavement support specific to loss by suicide.
If it would help to talk to me directly about arranging the funeral, I'm here — no pressure, whenever you're ready. WhatsApp +65 9112 1226.
