Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain deaths leave Hong Kong a grim message on depression

The recent suicides of designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain caused shock waves across the world, sending fans into mourning and bringing depression to the forefront of public discourse once again.

While Spade and Bourdain may be unfamiliar figures to many in Hong Kong, their suicides deserve much more of Hongkongers’ attention, as mental health is everyone’s business, regardless of gender, age, social status and nationality.

Being a frontline teacher, I’m particularly worried about our teens, given that puberty is a time that presents many challenges and uncertainties to vulnerable young minds.

On Teachers’ Development Day last week, a veteran social worker was invited to share his experience of handling suicide cases among adolescents in Hong Kong.

Contrary to popular belief, boys seem more likely than girls to actually commit suicide, whereas girls would forewarn people around them about their intention and plans to attempt suicide.

How a sensitive approach can help prevent youth suicide

That makes detecting signs of suicidal thoughts and action among girls much easier and early intervention possible. Boys could be driven by sudden impulse to end their lives, hence adding to the difficulty of pre-empting the tragedy. It doesn’t help that some high achievers are very adept at putting on a model-student façade, hiding their emotional problems instead of seeking help.