Suicide leading cause of death for NSFs in service from 2016 to 2025, but lower than national average

According to a report from Mothership, suicide has emerged as the leading cause of death among full-time national servicemen (NSFs) in service from 2016 to 2025, with an average of 10 to 11 NSF deaths per year. This figure is significantly lower than the national average for males aged 10 to 30, which saw a suicide rate of 0.014 per cent in 2024.

The suicide rate among NSFs stands at 0.009 per cent annually, indicating a lower incidence compared to the general population. Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing highlighted that while suicide is the primary cause of NSF deaths, road traffic accidents also contribute to the overall statistic. Chan emphasized that each death is a tragic loss, and the ministry conducts thorough investigations into each case, implementing measures to prevent future occurrences where possible.

Brief written by urgent.news from Mothership's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.