What’s hurting Hong Kong? Suicide risk cases rise 70 per cent, with prevention centre extending online services to help
Samaritan Befrienders releases startling figures as concerns continue to grow over the mental health of students
The number of suicide cases last year showed a small rise from the previous year, while the number of people seeking help in the last three months has soared.
Samaritan Befrienders, a local group focusing on suicide prevention, said the number of people considered a suicide risk who had asked for help between March and May this year was up by 70 per cent, while the latest coroner’s report recorded 1,022 suicide cases in 2015 – an increase of 1.5 per cent on 2014.
The number was equivalent to 13.94 suicide cases in every 100,000 people, a rate that was lower than other Asian countries.
South Korea recorded a rate of 28.9 per 100,000 people in 2012, while the British rate was 6.2.
Concerns will continue to grow over the mental health of the city’s students, as more than 30 students had taken their own life after the school year started in September, while the age groups of 10 to 19 and 20 to 29 both recorded a rise, of 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, last year from 2014.
Ho Wing-hung, the head of Samaritan Befrienders’ suicide crisis intervention centre, said 70 per cent more cases with risk of suicide have been referred to the centre between March and June.
That was when reports of student suicides reached a peak and the government launched a high-profile reaction, including forming a committee to suggest preventive measures against further tragedies.
“We have also extended the operation of our online chat room ... we want to contact as many young people on the internet as possible,” said the group’s chairwoman, Joyce Chow Yuen-fun, adding there had been a decline in the number of cases in hotline services last year.
As the government’s committee had announced on Friday that schools should enhance activities that promote mental health, Chow said more time was needed to assess the effectiveness of the measure.
Shan, a mother whose teenage son hanged himself several years ago, said schools should have more classes in life and death matters.
“Could the school discuss this topic once a week or twice a month? [At the moment] there isn’t any discussion at all,” said Shan, who is in her 40s.
Meanwhile, the latest statistics also showed that men maintained a higher suicide rate than women, accounting for about 63 per cent of cases. It’s a pattern that has been consistent throughout the past decade, with male and female cases staying at a ratio of six to four.
“Men often want to solve problems themselves rather than seek help from others,” said Clarence Tsang Chin-kwok, executive director of the group.
The group’s service hotline, which provides phone counselling without meeting in person, recorded more than half of its users as men.
If you need help, call the Samaritan Befrienders on 2389 2222.
