Tuesday, 3 October 2023

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外媒关注我国年长者自杀率增长现象 “亚洲瑞士”应让年长者过体面生活

根据新加坡移民与关卡局的的人口出生和死亡统计,在2017年共有361宗自杀案例,涉男性239人和122名女性。自杀的平均年龄为:51岁。

网络新闻Vice,近期一篇报导揭示新加坡年长者自杀呈增长现象,提到在2017年,虽然其他年龄群体自杀率减少,但有129名60岁以上年长者自杀,是自1991年以来的最高纪录。

其中一名化名佐哈里的大型殡仪公司的员工告诉Vice,平均每周都会遇到超过两宗跳楼自杀的个案。有时这些死者已经面目全非难以修复,无法供人瞻仰遗容,只得举行盖棺丧礼。

但是,佐哈里相信,这些个案还只是冰山一角。我国为了避免过度渲染自杀案件造成自杀跟风,对民众造成负面印象,因此也限制媒体报导自杀案。

难以负荷的债务和生活重担

佐哈里表示,据他和一些死者家属谈话,赌博恶习、医疗和生活成本压力或形成债务,可能是使他们萌生轻生念头的因素。

Vice的报导也提及了,号称“亚洲瑞士”的新加坡,却同时也是全球生活成本最昂贵、生活压力最大的城市之一。在2017年,经济学人智囊团把新加坡列为全球生活水平最贵的城市,而且蝉联了好几年。

Vice也引述本地民间自我调侃的说法,可以在新加坡生活,却负担不起在这里死去。

新加坡援人协会(Samaritans of Singapore)一名工作人员告诉Vice,一些人自杀可能是基于感到“深度的绝望、无助,被压得透不过气,或生活失去意义。”

忧成为家属负担

虽然新加坡的医疗开支获得津贴,但是对于已经退休没有工作的年长者,却仍是沉重负担。一名70岁靠退休储蓄生活的年长者指出,每个月要花1135元来照顾患有痴呆症的妻子,这些开销包括日顾费用、医药、帮佣、伙食水电,还有诸如买纸尿布等琐碎支出。对于没有稳定收入的人士,无疑是一笔大花费。

援人协会职员也指出,一些年长者在拨电求助时,也曾透露感到和社会脱节,但又不想成为家人和亲友的负担。在失去经济能力后,照顾他们的重担往往落在子女身上。

新加坡的人口正迅速老龄化,同时生育率低迷。意味着就业成年人和需供养家属之间的比例正急促下降。预计到了2030年,将有超过90万人口年龄超过65岁。

就业成年人(20-64岁)和年长者(65岁以上)之间的比例,将攀升至2.3比1,比起现在4.7:1的比例低了近半。

援人协会职员受访时认为,当自己成为被家属照料的成员,年长者可能产生无助和毫无价值的感受,加之生活圈子缩小,也加深令他们感到封闭和对现状的绝望感,这时可能会对自己唯一能拿注意的事–自己的命打主意。

“他们想结束的是绝望的生活”

不过,该名职员强调自杀是可以预防的,许多自杀者要结束的是令人感到绝望的生活,而不是他们的生命,“他们竭力想活下去,但是却找不到方法,所经历的痛苦远远超过他们所能负荷的。”

不过,Vice也提及仍有数个政府机构致力推动有尊严的乐龄生活,例如为年长者举办活动,安排志工到社区与老人做朋友,密切关注孤独和有风险的老人。这些法定机构也鼓励举办慈善活动,并探索各种扶助看护家属的方案。

虽然这些方案都很棒,但即使有了这些帮助,为何仍有年长国人选择了断轻生?如果极端的经济负担是这些年长者难以负荷的压力,或许政府更应该专注在重点,让年长者们过上体面的乐龄生活,减少忧虑,例如不用再为下一次的看诊费用担心。

当然,如果能把公积金自动领入息年龄定在65岁而不是70岁,相信举国乐龄长者俱欢颜。

20180730_cases.jpg

新加坡援人协会提供的自杀者统计数据(图表:《海峡时报》)

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