Rising teen suicides demands urgent, proactive response

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Police data revealed that among 37 suicide cases, mental health factors, such as depression, agitation, etc, accounted for 18.3 percent of the causes. The Samaritan Befrienders' Wai notes that mental illnesses can stem from predispositions like pessimistic temperaments or physiological factors, or be triggered by traumatic shocks. Hong Kong has consistently reported elevated mental illness prevalence, with one study in November finding nearly 25 percent of youth grappling with at least one mental health condition.

Yip points out that among the 37 cases, only 12, or approximately 30 percent, had medical records indicating any pre-existing illness or mental health condition. For the remaining 70 percent of cases without medical records, it is challenging to determine whether they had illnesses, or undisclosed mental health conditions, or if they did not have any illnesses at all. Yip's point is that student suicide is prompted not only by mental illness, and should not be overmedicalized. To effectively address the problem requires a holistic approach beyond just students' mental condition.

Lam of the Mental Wellness Association cites a research paper that declared 90 percent of suicide cases experienced at least one mental disorder. Lam argues that it is highly likely that most schoolchildren who commit suicide have underlying psychiatric issues. She therefore advocates a community-approach to identify at-risk students early and connect them to professional help and emotional care to prevent suicides.

Among the 37 suicides in 2023, only four cases had social welfare care, reflecting the low detection rate of students at risk of suicide. Lam says warning signals precede some suicides, such as sudden and abnormal changes in behavior, avoiding school, dropping out of activities, opting not to interact socially, neglecting personal grooming, etc.

These signals were easier to detect before the pandemic, as teachers, classmates and friends could readily notice when someone was unhappy. However, during the pandemic, with reduced contact between students and teachers, lockdowns, emigration of friends, teacher resignations, etc, these signals went unnoticed, Lam says.

Chung at the School Social Work Service of the Hong Kong Christian Service mentions that of the six suicide cases the center handled, only one student had been monitored by a social worker. The remaining five displayed no noticeable abnormalities in their daily lives, with one seemingly having a good time at school the day before suicide. Chung says it was hard to identify suicide-risk students if they deliberately conceal their problems.

Could fellow students be a source of identification? Research shows that the majority of schoolchildren do not confide in others when facing negative emotions, as they fear "spreading or being ridiculed" (30 percent), "being criticized or questioned" (16.7 percent), or "not being understood" (14 percent).

Coping behaviors under stress include resorting to gaming and entertainment (44.7 percent), and confiding in friends (40.7 percent). Only about 20 percent seek help from teachers, social workers and family members, and when they do, they rank social workers, family members and teachers in descending order. Among remaining options, teachers rank lower than internet friends.

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