PSS305: Suicide remains an inherently complex behavior, with no one definitive cause. It is often difficult to explain exactly how people: Criminological Theories and Intervention Assignment, SUSS, Singapore

Question

Suicide remains an inherently complex behavior, with no one definitive cause. It is often difficult to explain exactly how people facing a crisis perceive and interpret their daily lives as it usually includes a deep sense of despair, helplessness, hopelessness, and a sense of being overwhelmed by the loss of meaning in one’s life. On 9 September 2018, the Penal Code review committee called for the law on attempted suicide to be repealed. On 6 May
2019, the law was officially amended to decriminalize suicide. As of 1 January 2020, attempting suicide is not illegal in Singapore. A person who attempts suicide will not be punished for trying.

• Examine the reasons for criminalizing suicide. You may refer to both the local and global contexts.
• From a social constructionist perspective of crime and deviance, analyze Singapore’s decision to decriminalize suicide.