Opinion | Amid spate of youth suicides, Hong Kong must weave a safety net

A recent spate of student suicides in Hong Kong has reignited public anguish and concern over the mental well-being of the city’s youth, especially with regard to a possible contagious or copycat effect. As chairman of the 2016 government-appointed student suicide prevention committee, I am compelled to revisit our findings and call for urgent collective action to contain any likely spread.
The 2016 report explicitly appealed for a holistic and public health approach to suicide prevention. What we said then is still valid. It is a shame that there is still much room for improvement in building a community safety net for our youth. Each lost life represents an unfathomable tragedy – shattering a family, scarring a school and leaving a community in despair.
Suicide is preventable, but it requires a society-wide commitment to vigilance, empathy and systemic change rather than some sporadic, fragmented approach. The community has invested considerably in mental health yet the impact is still limited. We could achieve more if measures address the core issue of mental health.

To understand the recent suicides, our centre collaborated with the police negotiation team, experts and researchers to analyse the cases. The findings underscore a sobering truth: suicide stems from a tangled web of factors.

Family dynamics, triggering events and individual vulnerabilities vary widely. Even students in similar circumstances may respond differently to stressors. It would be naive if not fruitless to look for a single solution to such a complex problem.

While data from the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention puts Hong Kong’s latest suicide rate at four per 100,000 for students aged 25 or younger – which translates to one student across 50 schools of 500 pupils each – the unpredictability of risk defies simplistic solutions. Relying solely on identifying “high-risk” individuals is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Stanley Kwan Backs Rotterdam Winner Zheng Lu Xinyuan's Next

Stanley Kwan Backs Rotterdam Winner Zheng Lu Xinyuan’s Next

Hong Kong veteran filmmaker Stanley Kwan Kam-pang has thrown his weight behind “A Stranger at My Door,” the sophomore fiction feature from director Zheng Lu Xinyuan. The film is selected for the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the project market that operates concurrently with Hong Kong FilMart. The drama, which carries a

Ten Filmmakers Leading The Charge For Hong Kong’s New Wave 

Ten Filmmakers Leading The Charge For Hong Kong’s New Wave 

Despite the challenges currently faced by the Hong Kong film industry, a wave of new filmmakers has emerged in recent years. Backed by government funding and the mentoring of experienced local producers and directors, these talents have seen encouraging box office results at home as well as festival play and some commercial success overseas.  Unlike

The Last Dance

Despite two record-breaking hits, Hong Kong cinemas are struggling to stay open | Features

The Hong Kong box office sent out mixed signals when the annual figures were revealed in January. There was jubilation when two local titles rejuvenated the theatrical market with record-breaking results. Anselm Chan’s The Last Dance and Soi Cheang’s Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In significantly boosted the local market share of Hong Kong productions,

小西灣紙皮石剝落 女子被擊傷送院 - 20250317 - 港聞 - 每日明報

小西灣紙皮石剝落 女子被擊傷送院 – 20250317 – 港聞 – 每日明報

港聞 2025年3月17日星期一 港聞二 黑漢火炭捱斬亡 緝兩刀手 兇徒約20歲穿黑外套 搭的士逃 安老院推自立支援 輪椅翁重新步行盼再舞 話你知:源自北歐「復能照顧」 倡「三不四要」 業界《減約束約章》 近百院舍承諾參與 李駿碩:代讀撐巴聲明 出於道德責任 稱導演對演員有所承擔 「沒理會這世界如何想」 眾生相帶自傳色彩 記不同男性相遇痕迹 騙徒冒上司 校工保安中招失52萬 發展局降建造成本 採超強鋼建行人橋 小西灣紙皮石剝落 女子被擊傷送院 李予信空白期學拳練舞煉意志 初選案唯一脫罪結案 稱艱難時刻更要展風格 初選案4人最早下月出獄 戴耀廷鄒家成料至2032 屋苑商場打清潔黑工 拘16人涵4工頭 李慧琼:企業要多想國家處境 啟德「逐客」歸因環評 環保署:沒限活動時間 楊德強:全運會票價相宜 爭取多渠道播放賽事 灣區熱搜:學者:港規輸出灣區 領內地接軌國際 倡前海建「自貿啟動區」 慢慢擴大助全國市場一體化 灣區熱搜:政府報告再提統一大市場 促破地方壁壘 灣區熱搜:前海提加快深港銜接 涵數據自貿帳戶徵信通 5G路由器助船舶省衛星上網費 已打入東南亞 下個目標歐洲 【Emily】體育園首場跑步賽 蔡若蓮:跑得暢快 議員倡谷香港係「跑步天堂」 【Emily】李家超話政府似哪吒無畏無懼 【Emily】首期簡屋3.28起派匙 居民壁畫盼添家味 【Emily】科大為嫦八研月面作業機械人 雙臂好講究 【Emily】俄超市旺角開張 主攻海產日用品  Source link

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/230048/St.-Paul's-College-student-death-unrelated-to-exchange-program,-education-chief-says

St. Paul’s College student death unrelated to exchange program, education chief says

Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Sunday reiterated that the death of a St. Paul’s College student during the mainland exchange was unrelated to exchange activities, following a similar statement made weeks ago. The school confirmed on social media that the Form Five student passed away while participating in an exchange program

‘Rigid’ Hong Kong office turned into artists’ satire

‘Rigid’ Hong Kong office turned into artists’ satire

At first glance, the office desk could belong to any Chinese executive — an ashtray, mini-flags, a golden sculpture inscribed with the character for “integrity” and a picture of a local celebrity. Instead, it is part of a defiant art show challenging Hong Kong’s stuffy power structures, held in an office tower at the heart

Beijing slams Western UN diplomats over meeting Jimmy Lai’s son and legal team

Beijing slams Western UN diplomats over meeting Jimmy Lai’s son and legal team

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has slammed the American, British and Canadian ambassadors to the United Nations, accusing them of interfering in the city’s affairs after the son of jailed former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying met them last week. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign

Hong Kong police arrest 6 linked to phone scam gang operating for months

Hong Kong police arrest 6 linked to phone scam gang operating for months

Hong Kong police have smashed a fraud syndicate and arrested six suspects who allegedly cheated at least 12 victims out of about HK$520,000 (US$66,667) in a series of phone scams since last November. Officers on Sunday also urged schools to be on their guard against phone fraudsters after syndicate members were found in some cases

Hong Kong’s Sean Lau named best actor at Asian Film Awards for role in Papa

Hong Kong’s Sean Lau named best actor at Asian Film Awards for role in Papa

Hong Kong’s Sean Lau Ching-wan was named best actor at the Asian Film Awards on Sunday for his powerful portrayal of a grieving father in the family drama Papa, while local movie Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In won for best editing and best production design. The Last Dance, a drama centred on the funeral

Most Hong Kong parents unaware always calling child ‘stupid’ is abuse: survey

Most Hong Kong parents unaware always calling child ‘stupid’ is abuse: survey

Only one-third of Hong Kong parents recognise that constantly calling their children lazy, stupid or fat, or displaying emotional detachment can constitute child abuse, a survey by an NGO has found. Releasing the results of its survey on Sunday, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong highlighted a critical gap in parental understanding ahead of new

Starry Lee is a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong urged to make Northern Metropolis ‘special zone’ to speed up work

Hong Kong authorities should designate the Northern Metropolis as a “special zone” with a separate approval mechanism to speed up development, the city’s sole delegate to the nation’s top legislative body has said. Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, also discussed mounting criticism of CK Hutchison Holdings over its

Hong Kong coordination office head Yeung Tak-keung is gearing up for the Games. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Issues to fix for National Games cross-border races, says Hong Kong official

Trial runs for cross-border races at the coming National Games have revealed the need for greater support for trailing athletes and improved communication among escort personnel at boundary checkpoints, the head of Hong Kong’s coordination office has said. Hong Kong will co-host the 15th National Games in November with neighbouring Guangdong province and Macau for

Death of Hong Kong student in mainland China unrelated to school tour: minister

Death of Hong Kong student in mainland China unrelated to school tour: minister

A government investigation into the death of a Hong Kong teenager on an exchange trip to mainland China has found the tragedy was unrelated to his school tour, according to the education chief. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin was responding on Sunday after weeks of concern and online petitions demanding transparency from the school.

47% of Hong Kong families with SEN children face rude public reactions: poll

47% of Hong Kong families with SEN children face rude public reactions: poll

Nearly half of Hong Kong parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) have said their families encountered unpleasant treatment in public, such as stares, teasing or scolding, a poll has found. The Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) released the results on Sunday after polling 520 parents of SEN children and 619 members

Ne Zha 2 inspires John Lee to ‘overcome obstacles, forge path’ for Hong Kong

Ne Zha 2 inspires John Lee to ‘overcome obstacles, forge path’ for Hong Kong

Hong Kong should look to mainland Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 for inspiration to overcome obstacles and forge its own path, the city’s leader said on Sunday, revealing that he had watched the film with his wife. Ne Zha 2 has smashed records since its mainland release in January, grossing more than 15 billion

Hong Kong’s investment arm to unveil tie-up with firm specialising in RISC-V tech

Hong Kong’s investment arm to unveil tie-up with firm specialising in RISC-V tech

The Hong Kong government’s investment arm will unveil a partnership with a company specialising in open-source RISC-V chip technology on Friday and later host a joint summit. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday the partnership to be announced by the government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation would help accelerate the development of related industries

Pacific Place

Swire Properties Swings to $99M Loss on Hong Kong Headwinds

Occupancy at Swire’s Pacific Place was 95% at the end of last year Swire Properties reported an attributable loss of HK$766 million ($98.5 million) for 2024, reversing a year-earlier profit of HK$2.6 billion, as the Hong Kong-based builder’s hometown office portfolio drove markdowns on investment properties for a second year in a row. The Hong

Hong Kong schools don’t have enough teachers trained in AI, sector veterans say

Hong Kong schools don’t have enough teachers trained in AI, sector veterans say

Hong Kong schools do not have enough trained teachers or class time to help students improve their knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) amid a government push to get young people interested in the technology, education sector veterans have said. But one prominent AI scholar said schools first needed to teach students about ethical issues surrounding

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x