Researcher warns of alarming rise in suicide rates among students as 22 cases logged in 3 months

A researcher at the University of Hong Kong described the city’s rise in suicide rates among students as worrying after 22 teenage suicide attempts or deaths were recorded in 3 months, double the number recorded for the same period last year.

Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, founding director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong, told a radio program on Saturday that immediate action is needed from our society.

He said young people who attempt suicide often feel a great sense of helplessness, and in order to help them find happiness, it is crucial to provide them with hope.

The researcher also called on youngsters to actively seek out help.

Meanwhile, Lawmaker Lillian Kwok Ling-lai said the pandemic may have affected students' communication and expressive abilities, leading to the urgent need for more counseling support. She also suggested increasing the number of professional counselors in schools.

Speaking on the same program, Li Kin-man of the Hong Kong Association For School Discipline And Counseling Teachers, believed that schools should also do their part in alleviating the situation, come up with ways to reduce students' stress and improve their mental health.