GEORGE TOWN: From January to May this year, the Penang Fire and Rescue Department received no fewer than seven distress calls over people threatening to jump to their deaths from bridges.
Five cases involved the Penang Bridge while the Tunku Abdul Rahman Bridge in Seberang Perai and the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge had one case each.
Department director Saadon Moktar said 14 suicide attempts were recorded from March 2020 to May this year, believed to be related to mental health issues experienced during the Movement Control Order period.
He said these were among the findings obtained by firemen as they were trying to calm down those attempting to commit suicide.
"Most of these victims said they were under immense pressure due to the limited movement, as well as loss of work and income which led to them trying to end their lives.
"We are concerned that suicides may be an increasing trend in society," the director said.
He added that while the department was synonymous with fire-fighting and emergency rescues, it also had to deal with suicide attempts during the pandemic.
Saadon was met after taking part in a sanitisation of Bangunan Persekutuan in Jalan Anson, here, involving 15 personnel.
He said they had sanitised 410 buildings this year comprising government complexes, markets, schools as well as houses of worship.