Last year, a total of 88 people died by suicide in Macao – the highest number in a decade, multiple news outlets have reported.
That’s about 13 per 100,000 of Macao’s population. According to the World Health Organisation, the global average is nine per 100,000.
Information provided by the police showed most people who commit suicide in the city are men over the age 45, and the majority are Macao residents.
[See more: There is now a website dedicated to improving Macao’s mental health]
In 2022, 80 people committed suicide in Macao. That number was 66 in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The Health Bureau has noted that the causes of suicide were often complex, and tended to involve mental illness, chronic disease, and causes of stress such as gambling problems or financial distress.
In a statement, it emphasised that “effective suicide prevention requires everyone’s attention.”
The bureau encouraged people to communicate with those around them and to actively seek professional help if it was needed.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts about suicide, call the Caritas Hope for Life Hotline. The English and Portuguese language service can be reached on 2852 5777 and operates from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm Sunday to Tuesday and from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Thursday to Saturday. It is closed on Wednesdays and Public Holidays. The Chinese language service operates 24/7 on 2852 5222. In an emergency, call 999, 110 or 112.
