Student suicides in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the suicide rate of primary, secondary, and post-secondary students is relatively high,[citation needed] particularly beginning in the 2014–2015 academic year.
The distribution of deaths is shown below:[2] It is worth to note that the current data on primary and secondary suicide cases also reveal a significant association between gender and mental illness.
The Final Report published by the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides (Chinese: 防止學生自殺委員會) suggested the reason may be an unwillingness amongst men to talk openly with health care professionals and treat mental disorders.
It is also possible for schools to apply for up to HKD$150,000 from the Quality Education Fund to finance activities related to the well-being of students.
Post-secondary institutions are advised to have a 24 hours hotline and easy access to psychiatric and psychological services.
In response to the question, former Secretary for Education Eddie Ng replied that suicide is a complex matter that has no single cause.
For example, students under the NAS only have to sit for one public examination, and are able to choose elective subjects in accordance with their interests and abilities to develop their potential.
In relation to the Report, the Education Bureau has formulated several practical and follow-up actions to build a multi-layered safety net for students according to four areas.
[165] In addition to this, the Education Bureau proceeded with different policies and projects in response to the 2015–2016 student suicides and the following public discontent.
In this case, the educational material for schools, parents and students consisted of pamphlets on the topic of "Enhancing Life Resilience".
Chiefly by encouraging the set-up of Parent-Teacher Association and by organising activities made to improve home-school cooperation.
To achieve these goals the Committee on Home-School Co-operation set up three different types of grants that schools could apply for.
The second type of grant, with a maximum sum of HKD$5000, is for schools seeking to organise an activity with the purpose of encouraging home-school cooperation.
Furthermore, the contract lists hotlines, contacts, and an emergency number that the student should call in case of suicidal thoughts.
[172] In the final report, the Prevention of Student Suicide Committee divided their recommendations into universal, selective and indicated support.
Furthermore, the 19 suggestions are divided into areas of improvement, as follows: student support, families, traditional and social media, multiple articulation pathways, and systematic.
The 19 suggestions are:[3] duly support and address the development and diverse needs of the students and young people In November 2016, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union made the following suggestions: (1) Alleviation of teachers’ pressure e.g. increasing the quota of regular teachers and increase the teacher-student ratio per class; (2) Enhancing support from social workers (e.g. ensuring there is at least one social worker and one counsellor in each school); (3) Enhancing school-based educational psychology service (Chinese: 校本教育心理服務); (4) Reform of education system, e.g. abolish Territory-wide System Assessment.
Lai Pak-yin, the spokesperson from the Civil Alliance for Student Suicide Prevention, argues that excessive studying can have a harmful effect on family relationships.
Therefore, he suggested that the Educational Bureau should issue guidelines to help decrease the number of hours spent studying each day.
This example attracted huge public backlash – "If you die, your boyfriend may be sad for a few days, but he will soon find a new girlfriend and live normally.
According to Shiu Ka-chun, the example provided was dismissive and could encourage pessimistic ideas further adding to the suicidal thoughts.
[180] On 7 September 2017, the Under-secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin's 25-year-old son, Poon Hong-yan, jumped to his death from the family's flat on the 41st floor at Sorrento.
Various officials, such as the Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung,[181] expressed their condolences to Choi and her family.
