Hong Kong government extends scheme offering professional help to pupils at high risk of suicide

Two-month old ‘Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism’, which was to end Wednesday, will continue to run until December 31 this year

Education sector welcomes extension, saying it hopes government will consider making measure regular fixture

Reading Time:3 minutes

Youths play basketball in Tiu Keng Leng. The education sector welcomed an extension to a scheme offering professional mental health support to Hong Kong pupils. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 9:31pm, 29 Jan 2024Updated: 9:51pm, 29 Jan 2024

Hong Kong will extend a new scheme providing professional help to children in the city who are at high risk of suicide to the end of this year, authorities have said.

The education sector welcomed the Monday announcement, saying it hoped the government would consider making the measure a regular fixture.

Authorities said that the two-month-old “Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism” would continue to run until December 31. It was supposed to end on Wednesday.

“After reviewing the relevant circumstances and listening to the views of the sector, the government has decided to extend the implementation period of the mechanism and will continue to closely monitor the operation of the mechanism,” a government spokesman said.

Students return to campus at Ying Wa Girls’ School. The two-month-old “Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism” was extended to December 31. Photo: Jelly Tse

The scheme was rolled out after the number of suspected suicide cases among primary and secondary school pupils increased.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x