CNA938 Rewind - Give your heart a break – More younger people with heart problems in Singapore
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Some Singapore doctors are seeing more younger people coming in with heart problems that could lead to more serious conditions later in life. This, as the number of heart attacks continues to rise. According to a national registry, it now stands at more than 12,000 a year, compared to about 8,000 a decade ago. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examine this worrying trend with Dr Derek Koh, Chief Physician & Head of Lifescan Medical & Wellness
CNA938 Rewind - It's no monkey business! Spate of cases involving monkeys entering homes
Between Sept 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the National Parks Board (NParks) received around 200 reports relating to macaques in Punggol. The authorities have responded to a spate of cases involving wild monkeys entering flats in Punggol by culling some, sterilising others and conducting exercises to herd the animals back into nature areas. How concerning is this monkey business? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman find out from Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, Chief Executive, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres)
13 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Give your heart a break – More younger people with heart problems in Singapore
Some Singapore doctors are seeing more younger people coming in with heart problems that could lead to more serious conditions later in life. This, as the number of heart attacks continues to rise. According to a national registry, it now stands at more than 12,000 a year, compared to about 8,000 a decade ago. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examine this worrying trend with Dr Derek Koh, Chief Physician & Head of Lifescan Medical & Wellness
16 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Does China's latest economic data show the impact of the tariff war?
China's economy mostly remained resilient in April, but came in below estimates as the country reels from a persistent property and consumption crises, and faces tariff tensions with the US -- prompting authorities to cut benchmark lending rates. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman crunch the data and analyse what's next for Chinese officials with Betty Wang, Lead Economist, Northeast Asia, Oxford Economics
10 mins
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CNA
21 minutes ago
- CNA
Commentary: In suicide prevention, data must be timely, transparent and trusted
SINGAPORE: This week, Singapore reported a provisional suicide count of 314 for 2024. At the same time, the official number for 2023 was revised to 434 suicides, up from the previously reported 322 in July last year. This sequence in which the data was released highlights the need to treat provisional numbers with care. The initial figure for 2023 had been widely reported as the lowest in over two decades. Although the figure was clearly marked as provisional, many took it as a hopeful sign that suicide numbers were falling. The updated number - an increase of more than 100 cases – is a sobering moment for us working in suicide prevention. It affects how we interpret the data and look for patterns, where we direct support and how we speak to grieving families and communities. There is a need for stakeholders to reflect on how such data is communicated, so we can move forward with honesty and credibility. EVERY NUMBER IS A LIFE Suicide statistics aren't like any other metric. They are records of people who struggled, who mattered, and who left behind people who loved them. Singapore has a suicide reporting system built on careful processes. Each suspected case is referred to the coroner, who considers a full range of information, including police investigations, medical records, forensic evidence and family testimonies. This approach is rigorous, and rightly so. It ensures that deaths are not classified prematurely or without due care. But this thoroughness also means that the system takes time. The numbers released in July each year are marked as provisional. The final figures, as we saw with 2023, may not be confirmed until a full year later. In practice, it can take 18 months or more to know how many people died by suicide in a given year. In that gap, incomplete numbers can shape outreach, policies and public perceptions. So when the provisional figure for 2024 was released – 314 suicides, even lower than the previous year – it was shared as the lowest number on record. Based on the data available at the time, that is true. But given what we now know about the revision of the 2023 numbers, we must ask: What does the number really mean? This is not a criticism of the coroner's office or the agencies compiling these statistics. Their work is serious and necessary. Still, any revision of suicide data without clear explanation risks undermining trust, not just in the numbers, but in the larger effort to prevent suicide. WHAT'S POSSIBLE WITH TIMELY DATA Countries around the world have found that better data leads to better prevention. Japan, for example, passed a national suicide prevention law in 2006. Officials collect and share detailed information not just on deaths, but also on risk factors such as age, method and motivation. This data is shared with local municipalities, allowing tailored responses. Some communities focus on elderly isolation, others on youth stress. Volunteers are mobilised to monitor high-risk locations, and in some areas, blue LED lights - believed to have a calming effect - are installed at train stations to stop people from jumping in front of oncoming trains. As a result of its efforts, Japan's suicide numbers have fallen from over 30,000 in 2009 to 20,268 in 2024, showing that consistent, localised data can support meaningful change. Meanwhile in Norway, the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention runs a nationwide surveillance system that links cause-of-death data with mental health and addiction records. Using encrypted and anonymised data, the system identifies whether people who died by suicide had recent contact with care services. This information helps the system improve, whether by updating protocols, staff training or outreach. In Boston in the United States, public schools conduct regular anonymous surveys with students, asking about emotional well-being, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. When data showed rising distress among LGBTQ+ students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city responded. Peer groups expanded, partnerships grew and resources were redirected to where they were most needed. These examples offer valuable lessons, but they are not without flaws. Even in well-established systems, challenges remain. Healthcare providers often face unclear reporting duties and worry about how data sharing might affect patient care. Privacy laws are sometimes misunderstood or unevenly applied, and coordinating across agencies is rarely straightforward. Resources are also a major constraint. Building and sustaining such systems takes years, millions in funding and skilled staff to manage and interpret data. These aren't reasons to stop trying. But they show that good intentions must be backed by clear design, long-term support and strong safeguards. Singapore can learn from both the progress and the pitfalls. WHAT SINGAPORE IS MISSING In Singapore, we lack a robust national system to track suicide attempts. Completed suicides go through the coroner, but most attempts go undocumented unless the person seeks medical care. Even then, hospitals are not required by law to report them. That leaves the country without a clear picture of who is struggling, or how to intervene early. International research suggests that for every suicide, there are at least 10 to 20 attempts. Among adolescents, that figure may be even higher. Without clear attempted suicide data, we risk building policies based only on the tip of the iceberg. Another major gap is the lack of coordinated data on suicidal thoughts and self-harm, particularly among youth. Schools have counsellors. Helplines, like the one manned round the clock by Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), receive calls. But this information is rarely consolidated at the national level. Without a full picture, we end up responding to fragments, often when it is too late. WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE Singapore is not starting from zero. There are helplines, hospital services, school counselling teams, and dedicated professionals are all working hard to prevent suicide. But we do need better coordination. One practical step would be to establish a small central team whose job is to bring suicide-related data together. This team would analyse trends across hospitals, schools and helplines, not to identify individuals, but to flag areas where support is most urgently needed. Anonymous surveys, like those used in Boston, would also help us understand what young people are experiencing, whether they know where to seek help, and what barriers stand in their way. This is sensitive work, but other countries show it can be done. Helpline data is another valuable source. Every call and text message to SOS or the 1771 national mental health hotline is a cry for help. For example, if we see more calls in a certain month from a particular age group, that can guide early intervention. But this only works if the data is reviewed regularly and shared responsibly. Finally, clear communication is essential. When figures are released as provisional, that status should be consistently noted in reporting and public discussion. If the numbers are later revised, explaining why helps people understand the process. Clear communication builds trust, and trust is essential in suicide prevention. We owe it to those we've lost, and to those still struggling in silence, to do better. Because behind every number is a person. Someone who mattered. Someone who might still be here if we had seen the signs in time. Dr Jared Ng is a psychiatrist in private practice in Singapore. He was previously chief of the department of emergency and crisis care at the Institute of Mental Health. Where to get help: National mental health helpline: 1771 Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore developing Asia's first allergic rhinitis database
Singapore is developing Asia's first allergic rhinitis database. The condition - commonly known as hay fever - is triggered by allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander. Project ENTenna will be led by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, with the support of several other hospitals and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Principal Investigator Adjunct Associate Professor Ng Chew Lip, Senior Consultant at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, and Ryan Lim, a student with allergic rhinitis, discuss the launch of Asia first allergic rhinitis database and how they will be collecting data for this research. They talk about the need for Asia-specific data on allergic rhinitis and how the database will help doctors tailor treatment or even predict allergic flare-ups more accurately in a patient.
Independent Singapore
8 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Employer says, ‘My helper is unprofessional for coming back from her day off with a big hickey on her neck' — sparks FB debate over personal choices
SINGAPORE: If you thought a hickey was just a harmless mark of affection, think again. In Singapore's domestic helper Facebook circles, it has become a full-blown symbol of moral panic — at least for one employer. Posting in the Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Facebook group, a concerned employer wrote: 'My helper came back from her off day with a big hickie on her neck… As much as I think they can do whatever they choose to do during their free time, I felt that it was very unprofessional of her to do that.' Photo: FB/Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Her post didn't stop there. She took it a step further, adding that it raised suspicions about her helper's lifestyle: 'How can you know that they are keeping out of trouble and not doing anything illegal like prostituting themselves or getting themselves STDs?' From hickey to heated debate What began as a one-woman Facebook rant quickly evolved into a digital battleground. Some employers rushed to back her concerns, with a mix of prudish horror and speculative fiction. 'Not a good role model for your kids,' one chimed in. 'A lot are doing illegal part-time on their off days… massages and prostitution,' added another, confidently vague. 'Personally, I take the safer route… such character I will ask to leave mainly cause I have two kids at home,' said one who seemed ready to issue termination papers over epidermal evidence. One particularly stern employer laid down a manifesto on household ethics: 'Working in a private home means maintaining a high standard of professionalism and personal conduct…Coming back with visible marks such as hickeys is not appropriate in a professional caregiving environment… The house is a shared space, not your personal quarters.' That's right — welcome to the etiquette manual of post-day-off body presentation. But the helpers are not having it Other maids in the group were quick to clap back, schooling employers on boundaries, respect, and how not to jump to conclusions over a suspicious red blotch. 'Her body, her rules — as long as she's not putting others at risk,' one helper wrote. Another went straight for the jugular (pun possibly intended): 'Are you jealous because you can't get those marks?' However, one helper tried to mediate between both sides: 'Yes, you can do whatever you want on your off day, but also remember, don't give trouble to your employer. What happens to you here is their liability, so think before you act.' A few pointed out the elephant in the room — or rather, the mole on the neck: 'How can you be so sure it was a hickey? Have you had it before? Ask your helper [first]…' 'Sometimes, go out and go places, got some insects… scratching it could irritate.' In short, not all red marks are created equal. One maid, clearly tired of the drama, summed it up: 'So busy body this employer. I think she doesn't have any job, so her only job is checking her helper.' The bigger issue Beneath the surface of Facebook snark and love-bite theories lies a deeper issue about privacy, power, and professionalism. Yes, foreign domestic workers are expected to maintain standards of conduct, especially when living in close quarters with the families they serve, but do those expectations extend to their bodies during their day off? Are we now policing leisure-time skin conditions? Are we one suspicious mosquito bite away from a termination? While employers worry about health risks and household reputations, many helpers say they're just asking for basic respect — and the right to live as autonomous adults when off-duty. As one group member put it: 'Whatever she does in her off-duty, it's up to her. Why do you need to know her personal life? As long as she does her job properly, please lah, treat her as a human being too.' Maybe the next time someone spots a red mark on someone's neck, they should consider this revolutionary idea: ask them first to confirm, before starting a moral crusade on Facebook. In other news, a foreign domestic worker (FDW) in Singapore asked, 'Have I committed a crime to get married?' in a twist that sounds like a modern-day Cinderella tale with immigration red tape and a surprise termination letter as she was abruptly fired and told to pack up and leave the country, all because she fell in love with a Singaporean. 'I was shocked today,' she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post. 'My agency came and let me know to pack my things and leave the country immediately. I got terminated. My boss said this is because I'm going to get married to a Singaporean.' You can read her full plight over here: Maid says, 'I got terminated and was asked to leave Singapore immediately because I want to get married to a Singaporean'
