Educators and clinical psychologists have called for a system to help teachers and social workers cope with students suffering from mental illness after a teenage suicide at a Tung Chung school.
The death of Form Four student Wong Ling-fung, 17, who two weeks ago jumped from a staircase at the Tung Chung Catholic School in front of 600 teachers and students, has prompted debate among schools and psychiatric professionals about how to deal with such cases.
The incident exposed the lack of resources to deal with students suffering from mental illness.
The Hospital Authority does not currently provide information to the Education Bureau about students being treated for mental illness. Educators and clinical psychologists say students who receive treatment for mental illnesses at outpatient clinics under the authority could pose a threat to themselves and other students.
Wu Siu-wai, vice-chairman of the Federation of Education Workers, said Wong's death could prompt copycat suicides by other students.
Lee Kau Yan Memorial School principal Jonathan Lai Ping-wah said the bureau had failed to carry out early intervention in such cases because of privacy issues.
'Students and parents won't tell the school that they suffer from mental problems because of the stigma attached to mental illness. Parents don't know what to do because government support is lacking,' Lai said.
