Students need more mental health support

Eunice Lam

The government should prioritize fostering a caring culture and implement protective measures in schools to prevent student suicides.

Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, said the current three-tier school-based emergency mechanism struggles to identify students with suicidal tendencies.

His comments followed the center's report on Tuesday, which revealed that Hong Kong's suicide rate remained high last year at 13.6 deaths per 100,000, with an alarming increase among teens under 15.

The analysis, based on data from the coroner's court, indicated that the suicide rate was only slightly lower than the 13.7 recorded in 2022.

Significantly, 81 percent of the teens who died by suicide last year had no documented psychiatric issues.

Yip urged schools to cultivate mutual trust between teachers and students, emphasizing the importance of understanding students' needs and providing support.

"Among 10 students who committed suicide, only two had received psychiatric treatment," he said.

He illustrated the challenge of identifying at-risk students, saying: "Imagine if four students out of 100,000 commit suicide. It is very difficult to pinpoint those four among some 200 schools."

Yip called for schools to foster a nurturing environment and take protective measures. "These factors are crucial for students' mental health and can significantly reduce the risk of suicide," he said.

But there is a concerning trend emerging: suicide is becoming increasingly prevalent among younger ages.

The center said this pattern may stem from difficulties teens face in adjusting to the school environment and rebuilding their social support networks in the post-pandemic era.

Upon returning to school, many of them encounter significant stress related to academic performance and interpersonal relationships.

Yip acknowledged that while some schools have tried to stagger class schedules to help students transition, more comprehensive support is necessary to address the emotional scars these teens carry.

The center's findings revealed that 72 percent of teen suicides occurred at home, with Kwun Tong and Kowloon City identified as hotspots.

The proportion of young people in Kwun Tong is relatively small, yet the resources allocated for youth services are insufficient compared to other areas.