Statistics student shines on international stage with suicide prevention initiative

SMU undergraduate Ho Min Han has earned international acclaim by securing Third Prize in the Long Presentation Category at the Early Career & Student Statisticians Conference (ECSSC) on 21 November 2024. A second-year student from the School of Computing and Information Systems, Min Han captivated the judges with his compelling and statistically rigorous presentation on Save.Me.Too., a national suicide prevention initiative created by Ms Rosie Ching, Principal Lecturer of Statistics at the School of Economics, as part of her Statistics-X course.

The biennial ECSSC gathers top student and early-career statisticians from around the world. The 2024 edition featured fierce competition in two categories: Long Presentations (10 minutes) and Short Presentations (5 minutes). Despite facing off against experienced postgraduates, statisticians, and PhD holders, Min Han’s live presentation stood out, earning him a podium finish.

Min Han’s achievement adds to SMU’s impressive track record in the competition, following past wins by Joshua Tan Jing Yi and Shawn Lew Wei Hwa in 2019 and 2021, both of whom were mentored by Ms Ching.

A Meaningful Cause Driven by Data

Min Han’s presentation showcased the findings of Save.Me.Too., a large-scale survey, conducted by students, on the stigma surrounding suicide and the need for prevention strategies in Singapore. Led by Ms Ching, the project has contributed to national discussions on mental health policy and intervention.

Reflecting on his journey, Min Han shared, “This was my very first project in statistics, and it’s a testament to Ms Ching’s incredible teaching and mentorship. She inspires confidence, challenges us to aim higher, and is right there with us through the entire process. Winning this competition feels surreal – it’s a win for everyone who poured their heart and soul into Save.Me.Too. in STAT-X”.

The impact of the student project extends beyond academia, as Min Han highlighted: “Knowing that both Save.Me. and Save.Me.Too. have been included in the Project Hayat White Paper which aims to persuade the government to create Singapore’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the significance of this study is beyond what I would have dreamed possible as a young undergraduate pursuing an introductory course in statistics”.

Commitment and Dedication

Preparing for the competition was no easy feat. In addition to fine-tuning his  presentation, Min Han travelled to Australia for the event while juggling SMU exams and the Statistics-X Finalé and Exhibition. Despite the pressure, he remained focused and determined.

“Ms Ching was pivotal in guiding me through the maze of statistical methods, making sure I could link our multitude of statistical findings in everyday language for everyone to identify with,” he explained. “The simpler it was, the more impactful it became. I kept pushing to polish the script and delivery until it was near-flawless”.

Merging Statistics with Storytelling

The ECSSC judges assessed presentations based on organisation, content, delivery, timing, and use of audiovisual aids. Min Han’s ability to merge statistical analysis with a strong social message resonated deeply, proving that numbers can drive change, especially when addressing sensitive topics like suicide prevention.

Ms Ching, who has mentored multiple competition winners, was full of praise for her student. “Min Han is the epitome of grit, talent, confidence, and humility. I worked closely with him as a freshman through Save.Me.Too. and again for this competition, at the end of gruelling nights of consecutive rehearsals. What he has accomplished here is simply phenomenal. He has transformed what many perceive as a mere statistics project on a taboo topic into a powerful call-to-action for suicide awareness and prevention, and on a scale beyond Singapore’s.”

She further emphasised the deeper significance of the project: “What makes Min Han’s win even more special is the purpose behind Save.Me.Too., which is not just about data, but about humanity and people’s lives. His achievement is an amazing testament to his strength, ability, creativity, and determination to further our collective mission of saving lives. Min Han has mastered the art of using statistics to tell stories that genuinely matter, and this is just the beginning of his journey. I couldn’t be prouder of him!”

See also: SMU Student Shines Globally with Award-Winning Suicide Prevention Project | SMU Newsroom