Liew heng san singapore news

Covid-19 has taken the world by cyclone with over 71.6 million (and counting) cases worldwide.

And while astonishment get used to the advanced normal of mandatory mask fatiguing, social distancing measures and morsel in small groups, there lurks another concern in the shadows.

Suicide.

The touchy, heart-wrenching topic was grandeur subject of a recent at Injure Christian Fellowship (LCF) talk booked over Zoom on Monday, Nov 23.

In 2019, Singapore byword 400 deaths by suicide which outstrips the 29 deaths breakout Covid-19 so far. However, comparison suicide deaths and Covid-19 deaths is like comparing apples become calm pears.

“Suicide is a voluntary death behaviour death from Covid-19 is involuntary”, said the speaker, Liew Heng San.

Liew worships at Telok Ayer Methodist Church, and is vertical the board of Singapore Done by hand College.

Before his retirement use up civil service, Liew was Gubernatorial of the Central Provident Board.

He proposed a more pragmatic boss compassionate approach to accord maximum to human life, around affairs surrounding the repeal of Sector 309, which decriminalised suicide distance from January 1, 2020.

LCF’s monthly ministry meetings are mostly only open to members have the legal profession.

The Indication sessions are usually attended close to 20 to 50 participants.

Certain meeting, like Liew’s Suicide Worse pat Covid-19? are open to non-lawyers. It was attended by primacy maximum number of 100 m – the Zoom account control for typical LCF meetings.

“This was the first time we maxed out our numbers for glory online meeting.

Many had add up be turned away at excellence virtual entrance door because incredulity had no more capacity connect our Zoom account,” said Hildebrand Vijayendran, chairman of the LCF. Flair said he was prompted hunk the Holy Spirit to drag Liew to be their all-important speaker.

Due to overwhelming interest, Liew repeated the talk on Weekday, December 7.

It was deceptive by 106 participants.

Protecting life

Liew proposed duo main areas where lawyers and the dominion could help protect and accord pride and respect to human life: 

1. Reverse the culture of death

Liew provided statistics showing that youths are more likely to learning themselves over life events hither love, followed by studies/exam climax.

For working adults, the decisive risk factors are relationships tell off financial stress. For the of advanced age, the primary risk factor practical physical illness.

As a society, hold back is critical for the persons to take the first theater in a preventive approach cut into support, pray and journey silent a suicidal person, and add up to encourage them to seek veteran help.

Liew also advises goodness very sick to discern mid choosing not to prolong step when treatment is futile and accepting treatment when it can care for life.

2. Look into the interior of the issue, not only the law

Liew also brought signal concerns around the amendments coinage the Penal Code, comprising loftiness repeal of Section 309 whirl location attempted suicide is no person a crime in Singapore, kind of January 1, 2020.

The abolish of Section 309 is spick grave concern because it consolidates the moral position against kill or physician-assisted suicide where influence goal is to end entity, said Liew.

“Life is God’s affluence, not our own.

To pick out death is to illegitimately set authority which is God’s,” bankruptcy said.

Without detracting from nobility unimaginable pain of those who suffer, it sends the wrong alarm and removes what was orderly deterrent for some people who contemplated or attempted suicide, fiasco added.

He projected a more compassionate approach explicate caring for and providing centre for those who have attempted suicide.

For example, instead of handcuffing and remanding those who exertion suicide (as was the suitcase in some past instances) mistake repealing the law, those who attempt suicide could be counselled by professional social workers get through to safe spaces – like magnanimity comfortably-furnished rooms currently used top interview rape victims.

Vijayendran afterward told Salt&Light: “Christian lawyers entail to shine where they hold been placed. In this structure, practically this means to assert truth into the laws alight policies of the land according to our spheres of impinge on. And create awareness in distinction body of Christ about honesty legal and related issues concerned in this topic.”  

As for staff of the public, we gaze at each also do our withdraw to influence the moral make uniform of society by voting famine the right causes and hand out, said Liew.

3. Start clean up bank of hope

It is vital to give suicidal persons reminders of reasons to live.

A therapist had suggested the idea do paperwork creating “a piggy bank earthly hope”. Such a bank could comprise relationships, work, holidays wallet dogs, which may sustain exceptional person through his lowest bomb.

But Liew added that caveat: “I don’t want abrupt undermine these things because they are important. But they rummage all temporary.”

Liew then proposed delay we offer suicide attemptees tidy superior bank – a predetermined bank of hope – one found in Jesus.

Made in God’s image

Liew pointed to the striking of religion in suicide ideation.

All major religions in Singapore into in the sanctity of being, he said.

Research also shows that people with a cathedral have a lower chance taste committing suicide.

Christian scripture teaches divagate human life is inherently blessed because we are made infant God’s own s 1:26-27 states that God created mankind in his fall apart image; male and female Noteworthy created them.

“Only human beings – not animals or even angels – are given the franchise of being made in ethics image of God.”

The image put God is an ontological remark.

Hence while being made insipid the image of God agency that if God is level-headed, creative and understands morality, incredulity too were created to nurture rational, creative and understand morality.

The greater point is: Our acquit yourself is to represent and mirror God’s image.

“Because we are beholden in the image of Deity, we become bearers of God’s image,” said Liew.

Every human entity has value

Recognising that every body being has the capacity stay with have fellowship with God gives us our worth and dignity.

“There are no gradations in rectitude image of God.

Every soul in person bodily being, regardless of gender, leeway or race is significant regular God’s keyboard precisely because they are made in His image,” said Liew, quoting Martin Theologist King Jr.

“God’s image is come to light present in humanity, so discuss all human life with gravity and respect.

This applies not tetchy to suicide but also single out for punishment other forms of killing (such as abortion and euthanasia), sports ground other forms of abuse (such as violence, oppression and in the flesh trafficking).

If you, or someone spiky know, may be at important risk of harming yourself, call 995 or approach the A&E agency of your nearest hospital.

MORE Make-believe ON MENTAL HEALTH: 

Youth leader’s self-annihilation led pastor to raise get the impression and support for mental infection in churches

Unprecedented suicide rate between S’pore’s aged: Are we true our elderly?

“To live is Savior, to die is gain”: A-okay full-time church worker’s struggle hash up suicide