To prevent student suicides, all of Hong Kong has to fight the battle – each and every day
Paul Yip says while there is no quick fix to the problem, which has many causes, it is heartening that many in the city already recognise the need to show care and are doing their part to support our young
The government has set up a committee to investigate the causes of recent student suicides. I have been asked to chair it and a final report will be made available in six months. Members of the committee are drawn from a wide range of sectors and professions and have the full support of various government departments, including the labour and welfare, food and health, and home affairs bureaus. We are also pleased that the president of the student union at the University of Hong Kong has joined the committee, too.
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When it comes to suicides, one is too many. Our core mission is very clear: to prevent student suicides. The government is fully committed to this effort. Nonetheless, the causes of suicide are always complex. Thus, I hope the community understands that there is no quick fix and one size doesn’t fit all.
It is easy to blame pressure arising from our exam-orientated education system. It is well known that young people in Western countries face less academic pressure; however, their suicide rate is higher than that of Hong Kong youth. There is a high prevalence of substance abuse and drinking among young people in the West. Any failure to appreciate the complexities of the problem would mislead intervention efforts and cause us to miss the window of opportunity for saving lives.
Our first task is to thoroughly investigate the causes of suicide. Individual and family character traits, relationships, mental well-being, peer and school experiences, support for children with special needs, and so on, are all of concern. All have been shown to be related to suicide risk.
In Hong Kong, the kids aren’t alright
Sometimes, parents’ unrealistic expectations of their children can be a major source of stress to schoolchildren. For some, there is the additional challenge of dealing with parents who are often not there. Some parents are not easily contactable due to their heavy workload and/or long working hours. This is especially true of single parents.
Don’t be too quick to blame school pressure for Hong Kong’s youth suicides
A good education is regarded as very important, so parents tend to stress academic achievement over the mental well-being of their children. At home, too, many have to cope with tiny living spaces, which increases mental stress.
In schools, the demanding teaching and administrative duties of staff leave them no time to really understand students. According to the latest “Child Fatality Review” by the Social Welfare Department, the majority of students who took their own lives in 2010 and 2011 had expressed their suicidal thoughts in one way or another before the actual act. Yet, somehow, we were not able to pick up their distress signals and provide timely intervention.