A recent report shows that in 2024 senior men in Singapore accounted for the majority of suicides among those aged 60 and above. Experts explain how retirement, health decline, loss of work identity, limited social networks and reluctance to seek help combine to heighten vulnerability. The article examines gender expectations, the opportunity to re‑define roles within families, and the need for proactive health and social strategies to reduce this alarming trend.
SINGAPORE: In 2024 a total of 120 seniors aged 60 and older ended their own lives, with the vast majority of those deaths occurring among men.
The figures released by Samaritans of Singapore confirm that three‑quarters of the cases were male, translating to 90 male deaths compared with 30 female deaths. Experts across multiple disciplines have linked this gender gap to a combination of social, psychological and health‑related factors that often surface as men reach advanced age.
Professor Paulin Straughan, director of the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing at Singapore Management University, argues that traditional gender expectations drive many men to prioritise paid employment to the point where friendships, hobbies or alternative interests suffer. She notes that when a man's identity becomes tightly tied to work, retirement can abruptly erase the routines, sense of purpose and social network that sustained him during his career.
Straughan cautions that without investing time in nurturing relationships or personal passions while still employed, a man may return to a home that feels empty and alienating. The loss of work as a social platform is compounded by the fact that many older men are less likely to seek external support or admit that they are struggling.
Associate Professor Dr Helen Ko from the Singapore University of Social Sciences stresses that men have long been conditioned to view themselves as primary financial providers. This role reinforces a narrow view of masculinity that discourages emotional openness.
However, specialists point out that retirement does not have to mean a loss of purpose. Tsao Foundation counsellor Ms Loh Yan Zhu recommends that older men shift from being the family's material provider to becoming an emotional one, offering encouragement, wisdom and shared experiences. By redefining their contribution, older men can strengthen bonds that were previously underdeveloped. Physical health also plays a central role.
Senior psychiatric consultant Dr Surej John explains that chronic illness, pain and reduced mobility can erode an older adult's sense of independence, and when combined with depression, bereavement or financial strain the risk of suicide escalates. Dr Lim Boon Leng of Gleneagles Hospital adds that the fear of becoming a burden often signals deeper psychological distress rather than a genuine concern about physical state.
Studies show that functional disability is consistently linked with suicidal ideation, and that loneliness and social isolation only amplify the danger. Deputy director of SOS, Charlene Heng, points out that the loss of workplace connections is a major source of isolation for older men. She notes that women tend to maintain broader social networks and are generally more forthcoming in seeking help. Even when older adults live with family, lack of genuine interaction can leave them feeling invisible or misunderstood.
Depression in seniors often presents through vague physical complaints such as appetite loss or sleep disturbance, making it harder to recognise than in younger populations. The combination of gendered expectations, retirement transitions, chronic illness and fragmented social networks creates a perfect storm that pushes many older men toward despair.
Interventions that incorporate mental‑health screening, community engagement and a redefinition of familial roles may offer a path away from this tragic trend, keeping the more than 11,000 senior citizens in Singapore safer and healthier. The findings paint a stark picture of how the intersection of cultural norms, health challenges and social isolation can disproportionately affect older men.
Society is urged to address each component-financial planning for retirement, promotion of emotional well‑being, and stronger community ties-to reverse this alarming statistic and support older men in maintaining both physical and mental health as they age.
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