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Suicides in Hong Kong

Young people play basketball in Tiu Keng Leng in December 2023. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong youth

Opinion | Hong Kong government can’t turn the tide on youth disenchantment on its own

Government initiatives are expensive and not enough. For effective youth development, collaboration is needed with businesses and the community.

5 Nov 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong must ditch ‘work hard now, pay with health later’ culture

10 Oct 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong youth

Editorial | Fine-tune emergency response to help youth with high suicide risk

6 Oct 2024 - 5:45AM

Hong Kong society

Hongkongers mourn closure of toy giant that helped make 75 years of memories

Closure comes to light as reseller reveals it is bidding on items from Oriental Trading Company Hong Kong that are up for grabs at warehouse.

19 Sep 2024 - 8:39PM

A reseller has shared images of items going up for bidding, with many of the toys believed to have come from Oriental Trading Company Hong Kong Limited. Photo: Facebook/大福行夜冷

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong schools need more diagnostic help in suicide prevention system: experts

Calls to streamline procedures under three-tier system follow city leader’s push for improvements.

18 Sep 2024 - 11:00PM

Hong Kong society

Letters | Spotlight on Tim Walz’s son offers chance to learn about NVLD

Readers shed light on a learning disorder, discuss the importance of helping people who have lost a loved one to suicide, and argue for a ‘disconnect law’.

18 Sep 2024 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong society

Suicide rate among Hong Kong girls under 15 increases by more than 7 times

Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention estimate rate for all ages was 13.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023.

11 Sep 2024 - 12:05AM

The suicide rate for Hong Kong girls under 15 rose from 0.5 in 2022 to 4.2 last year. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Let’s change the narrative on mental health in Hong Kong

Mental health issues are more common than some might think. Talking openly and reaching out to people around us who may be struggling can help.

10 Sep 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Editorial | Early action can help deter Hong Kong school suicides

A recent survey found 20 per cent of 1,600 city secondary school respondents had symptoms of anxiety and depression.

6 Sep 2024 - 6:30AM

Education in Hong Kong

280 Hong Kong pupils at high suicide risk sent to psychiatric services: minister

Less than half of primary and secondary schools have adopted new mental health charter, education chief Christine Choi says.

4 Sep 2024 - 1:02PM

Authorities have launched a 4R Mental Health Charter that focuses on rest, relaxation, as well as building relationship skills and fostering resilience among pupils. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong education chief opens up about son’s suicide, vows to support youth

Christine Choi says incident left ‘big hole in her heart’, but religion, reading, and family and friends helped her to cope with son’s death.

1 Sep 2024 - 5:46PM

Secretary for Education Christine Choi has said the death of her elder son left “a big hole in her heart”. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong couple jailed for 9 months over murder-suicide attempt with children

Judge says debt-ridden couple tried to burn charcoal three times in six hours while their two sons slept on November 5, 2021.

6 Aug 2024 - 6:35PM

Hong Kong police

Hong Kong police detective believed to have killed himself with service pistol

Off-duty policeman found by hiker in New Territories trail at around 11.44am on Monday.

5 Aug 2024 - 11:25PM

Hong Kong youth

Letters | 2 ways Hong Kong can build a healthy education system

Readers discuss curriculum changes that could tackle student stress, the importance of giving all children a chance to take parts in sports, and the screening process for sporting competitions.

18 Jul 2024 - 11:30AM

Students take the DSE Chinese language exam at a school in Tai Po on April 11. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Elderly Hong Kong couple found dead in suspected charcoal-burning suicide

Police find couple lying unconsciously in room with burned charcoal and suicide note.

16 Jul 2024 - 5:15PM

Tak Tin Plaza. Police discovered the husband and wife lying unconsciously inside their flat. Photo: Wikipedia

Hong Kong youth

Letters | How Hong Kong’s education system must change to prevent student suicides

Readers discuss the importance of social and emotional learning at school, a film that could help people better understand their emotions, and the importance of fairness in swimming selections.

14 Jul 2024 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong culture

Editorial | Educate Hong Kong’s schools on mental health issues

Emergency mechanism to help at-risk Hong Kong students should be reviewed to offer greater support and investigate the number of psychiatric referrals.

19 Jun 2024 - 8:15AMvideocam

Hong Kong police

Hong Kong police officer dies in suspected suicide at marine division base

Officer, 51, found injured in changing room at Sai Wan Ho marine police base in afternoon; pronounced dead at the scene.

17 Jun 2024 - 6:59AM

The incident occurred at the marine police base in Sai Wan Ho on Sunday. Photo: Bruce Yan

Hong Kong society

Rise in suicides among young Hongkongers sparks calls for more action

Many troubled youth avoid seeking help fearing stigma, labelling and causing parents concern.

1 Sep 2024 - 5:20PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Mother’s Day tragedy as Hong Kong woman, son die in murder-suicide case

Woman, 58, believed to have burned charcoal to commit suicide with 32-year-old son at her Kwai Chung home on Mother’s Day, source says.

13 May 2024 - 8:02PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong should offer more training to embattled carers for elderly: advisory body

Dr Donald Li, chairman of Elderly Commission, also says promotion efforts must be ramped up to combat taboo against carers seeking outside help.

20 Apr 2024 - 4:32PM

Experts have said the government currently lacks carer-centric policies. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong youth

Opinion | To reverse rising student suicides, deep education reforms are needed

The Education Bureau’s response to rising student suicides has been superficial at best. It must overhaul the system, starting with the homework policy. The government should also set up a student suicide prevention committee.

12 Apr 2024 - 10:15AMvideocam

Secondary school students in Hong Kong on July 10, 2020. The Education Bureau attributes the rise in student suicides mainly to the challenges of a return to normality after the pandemic. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Murder-suicide cases show need to review Hong Kong welfare safety net

Carers from all sections of city society carry financial and psychological burdens, but official help seen to mainly target those from grass-roots families

5 Apr 2024 - 6:15AM

Hong Kong culture

Fans of late Hong Kong Cantopop, acting star Leslie Cheung gather to pay tribute

Flower bouquets line Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central, where 46-year-old singer who struggled with depression jumped to his death in 2003.

2 Apr 2024 - 7:12AM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong lawmakers call for more support for carers to prevent burnout

Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen says carer burden not related to socioeconomic status after suspected murder-suicide attempt in upscale neighbourhood.

30 Mar 2024 - 2:27AM

A lawmaker has said that the stress and problems faced by carers are not related to their socioeconomic status. Photo: Shutterstock

Mental health

Editorial | Link between clear air and fewer suicides is another reason to act

A study lends support to the argument that there is more to environmental protection than just physical health and economic benefits.

17 Mar 2024 - 1:14AMvideocam

Emissions rise from the smokestacks at a coal power plant in Kansas, USA. File photo: AP

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Gender inequality hurts men and boys too. Inclusion is everyone’s fight

From men’s reluctance to seek mental help to women’s low workforce participation, harmful gender-based social norms and unequal power dynamics hurt everyone. Men and boys must go beyond being supportive allies to taking shared ownership of the cause.

8 Mar 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong budget 2024-25

Letters | Should Hong Kong taxpayers’ money be spent on monthly fireworks?

Readers discuss the city’s annual budget, the danger of scrapping property cooling measures, and how to take better care of caregivers.

1 Mar 2024 - 12:42PM

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Suicides in Hong Kong

WHERE TO GET HELP ● 24-hour Samaritans multi-lingual Suicide Prevention hotline: +852 2896 0000 ● 24-hour hotline at Suicide Prevention Services: +852 2382 0000 ● 24-hour hotline at Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong: +852 2389 2222 ● Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care: +852 2868 1211 For other hotlines, refer to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service

last updated:

9 September, 2024