https://www.scmp.com/rss/322333/feed WHERE TO GET HELP ● 24-hour Samaritans multi-lingual Suicide Prevention hotline: +852 2896 0000 ● 24-hour hotline at Suicide Prevention Services: +852 2382 0000 ● 24-hour hotline at Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong: +852 2389 2222 ● Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care: +852 2868 1211 For other hotlines, refer to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Hong Kong’s new budget is positioned to foster high-quality, inclusive growth through innovation and finance. Ahead of projections, a surplus of HK$2.9 billion (US$370.8 million) is now expected, largely due to the stronger-than-expected stock market and tax receipts. Reflecting a sound fiscal approach and forward thinking, the 2026-27 budget will maintain an operating surplus and allocate about 60 per cent of recurrent spending to vital sectors such as health, social welfare and education. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong hit a record low in births last year despite a range of government incentives, including a HK$20,000 (US$2,560) baby cash bonus for new parents launched in 2023. Just 31,714 babies were born last year. This might have come as a surprise for the authorities, which had projected a rise to 39,000 births. So was the baby bonus worth the try? Yes, if we can draw insight from the experience. To be fair, it wasn’t the only thing the government had done to encourage babies. It rolled out tax... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) has launched an artificial intelligence-powered mental health support app for students, with a secondary school principal praising its potential to help teachers track pupils’ emotional well-being. Named EmoCare, the app began a trial run last month, serving about 700 primary, secondary and university students. A key feature turns students’ diary entries into colourful visualisations of their emotions. The app’s large language model analyses the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341297/ai-mental-health-app-helps-hong-kong-students-accentuate-positive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341297/ai-mental-health-app-helps-hong-kong-students-accentuate-positive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:58:37 +0000 Sunika Joshi Sunika Joshi With more than one in three Hongkongers estimated to be 65 or older by 2050, the city must decide whether to spend the coming years improving an overburdened healthcare system or to entirely transform the structure to address the silent epidemic of mental health crises among the elderly. Hong Kong is expected to have the world’s oldest population by 2050. While longevity is a remarkable indication of good health and an excellent medical system, it also comes with challenges beyond those of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Sonal Dhanani Sonal Dhanani Hong Kong has been talking more openly about youth mental health than ever before – and with good reason. Student suicides climbed to a decade high of 32 cases in 2023, and there were 28 more last year. The number of students struggling with mental health issues rose 27 per cent between 2023 and 2024. Beyond schools, the city recorded 1,092 suicides in 2023, almost three people a day. Researchers note worrying trends among younger adults, particularly men aged 25-39. The policy response has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335457/why-hong-kongs-youth-must-be-key-part-citys-mental-health-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335457/why-hong-kongs-youth-must-be-key-part-citys-mental-health-support?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:30:10 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after an elderly man and his wife were found dead at two nearby buildings in Tsing Yi. The force said the man, 82, was found injured near a multi-storey car park at Cheung Hang Estate at around 2.30pm on Wednesday and was later confirmed dead at the scene. Investigators suspected the man had fallen from the fifth floor of the building, police said. Police contacted the man’s daughter and found out that he lived in a flat in Wang Sum... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3330794/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-murder-suicide-after-2-found-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3330794/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-murder-suicide-after-2-found-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:07:32 +0000 Amanda Sheppard Amanda Sheppard According to a 2024 survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, 45 per cent of students polled identified their stress levels between seven and 10. These results demonstrated the first increase in four years. With stress levels on the rise, so too are the physical and mental consequences. These can range between sleep disruptions, headaches, changes in appetite, irritability, withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness. On Monday, it was reported that an 11-year-old boy in Tuen Mun died... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330206/under-pressure-rising-stress-crisis-among-hong-kong-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330206/under-pressure-rising-stress-crisis-among-hong-kong-students?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:17:39 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words It was heartbreaking to read about a mother in Hong Kong suspected of drowning her baby before ending her own life. While the circumstances remain under investigation, this tragedy underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, support, compassion and proactive management of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3330012/support-new-mothers-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3330012/support-new-mothers-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong warehouse worker has been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to kill his 90-year-old father in a failed murder-suicide bid two years ago. The High Court on Wednesday ruled that the sentence given to Au Chi-ming was appropriate, balancing society’s condemnation of such crimes, the need to deter similar acts and the “tragic” circumstances of the case. The 53-year-old defendant pleaded guilty last month to trying to kill his bedridden father as part of his attempt to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329110/hong-kong-man-jailed-4-years-over-attempted-murder-suicide-90-year-old-father?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329110/hong-kong-man-jailed-4-years-over-attempted-murder-suicide-90-year-old-father?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:52:46 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An expatriate mother may have drowned her seven-month-old daughter before hanging herself at their home in Hong Kong’s Southern district, police have said. The 34-year-old woman’s husband reported the case at around 4pm on Monday after arriving at their flat at the luxury Shouson Garden residential estate on Shouson Hill Road. Police said he returned home and found her hanging inside the master bedroom’s walk-in wardrobe. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. The unresponsive child, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328820/hong-kong-police-investigate-after-mother-infant-daughter-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328820/hong-kong-police-investigate-after-mother-infant-daughter-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:43:49 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The chief executive pressed many of the right buttons on mental health in his 2025 policy address. In the relevant section of his speech, he started by drawing a useful distinction between treatment and prevention. Conflation of the two happens frequently in public discourse,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong warehouse worker has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his 90-year-old father after burning charcoal at their home in a bid to take both their lives two years ago. The High Court on Friday heard how Au Chi-ming, 53, tried to die together with his bedridden father in August 2023 after accumulating more than HK$250,000 (US$32,100) in credit card debt and failing to pay their rent for three months. The court was also told that Au had lived with his father, elder sister and niece... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3326102/hong-kong-man-pleads-guilty-attempted-murder-father-90-during-suicide-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3326102/hong-kong-man-pleads-guilty-attempted-murder-father-90-during-suicide-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:45:31 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Emily Hung Lo Hoi-ying,Emily Hung A scheme providing professional help to Hong Kong secondary school students at a high risk of suicide will be made permanent and the programme extended to Primary Four to Six pupils on a trial basis for early identification and intervention, the city’s leader has announced. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Wednesday the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism for secondary schools would become a regular fixture this academic year. Upper primary students would also benefit from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3325880/policy-address-2025-more-help-hong-kong-students-risk-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3325880/policy-address-2025-more-help-hong-kong-students-risk-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:29:22 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Some readers might not know Hong Kong had an election a little over a week ago. And that’s OK, because most of us aren’t part of the 3,631 voters eligible to take part in the Election Committee subsector by-elections, held on September 7. The election achieved a phenomenal voter turnout rate of 97.33 per cent. The 1,500-member Election Committee had 93 vacancies that needed filling. Nearly 80 per cent of the seats were uncontested. The public may lack interest, but that doesn’t mean the Election... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Hong Kong’s suicide statistics paint a depressing picture. Last year, the city recorded 1,138 suicides, the highest number since 2003. That, on average, is about 3.12 suicide deaths per day, and was a 4 per cent rise from 2023 figures. Compiled by Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong, an NGO, the numbers are based on an analysis of data from the Coroner’s Court and, not surprisingly, prompted a renewed push for better mental health support services. The New Normal Charity Hong Kong, which provides... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325038/hong-kong-charitys-walk-suicide-awareness-something-move-through-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325038/hong-kong-charitys-walk-suicide-awareness-something-move-through-together?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 04:19:57 +0000 Angel Woo Angel Woo Hong Kong’s estimated suicide rate increased last year, with men aged between 25 and 39 emerging as the most vulnerable group, according to the latest data from a local university, with experts attributing the rise in male victims to the city’s sluggish economy. Figures published by the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on Wednesday showed that the estimated suicide rate in 2024 stood at 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 13.5... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325056/hong-kongs-estimated-suicide-rate-rose-last-year-who-was-most-risk-and-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325056/hong-kongs-estimated-suicide-rate-rose-last-year-who-was-most-risk-and-why?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:03:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification It is heartbreaking to learn that the number of suicides in 2024 was the highest since 2003. The Actuarial Society of Hong Kong recently reported that suicide is the leading cause of death among... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324868/hong-kong-needs-more-open-and-empathetic-conversations-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324868/hong-kong-needs-more-open-and-empathetic-conversations-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Paul Yip,Wendy So Paul Yip,Wendy So September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day, a vital global call to action that unites communities worldwide – including individuals, organisations and those with lived experience – to initiate crucial conversations and reaffirm our collective role in preventing suicide. This day is aligned with the 2024-2026 triennial theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, which urges us to challenge the stigma and misconceptions that too often silence those in need. Although this essential work... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324764/how-safer-hong-kong-can-change-narrative-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324764/how-safer-hong-kong-can-change-narrative-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Housing Department has pledged to review its work procedures on public flat tenants with special needs after a mother and son, both reportedly suffering from mental illnesses and facing eviction, committed suicide. Social workers and housing advisers said on Monday that authorities could improve administrative procedures to be more accommodating in such cases, and consider and streamline rehousing arrangements for them. “It is reasonable to take back flats and combat the abuse of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324785/hong-kong-review-public-housing-workflow-after-mother-son-suicide-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324785/hong-kong-review-public-housing-workflow-after-mother-son-suicide-case?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:21:18 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong father who allegedly killed his two young children before a failed suicide attempt last month is suffering from depression, a court has heard. Salesman Chen Guocheng, 40, appeared in Kowloon City Court for the first time on Friday to face two counts of murder, as prosecutors asked for a 12-week adjournment to allow police to conduct further inquiries. A psychiatric report issued by Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei found Chen to be suicidal but fit to attend hearings, the court... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324456/hong-kong-father-suspected-murdering-his-2-children-has-depression-court-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324456/hong-kong-father-suspected-murdering-his-2-children-has-depression-court-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 07:00:13 +0000 Vivian Au,Ambrose Li Vivian Au,Ambrose Li A woman accused of killing her mother and younger brother before attempting suicide is believed to have acted under mental stress, Hong Kong police have said, while the government is facing mounting pressure to rapidly expand its carer services. Welfare groups on Tuesday urged authorities to widen their database and related services to cover more types of high-risk carers across all of the city’s 18 districts, a day after a 52-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321603/hong-kong-woman-accused-killing-mother-and-brother-acted-under-mental-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321603/hong-kong-woman-accused-killing-mother-and-brother-acted-under-mental-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:50:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A suspected murder-suicide involving a young family in Hong Kong must serve as a wake-up call for the city to redouble efforts to tackle mental health issues. While an investigation of the tragedy is still under way, facts already known about the case should focus attention on a recent spike in depression cases and the need for a better response. The 37-year-old father is believed to have used a knife to take the lives of his wife and their two sons, aged three and six. Police also believe he... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3320428/familys-death-wake-call-better-mental-health-support-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3320428/familys-death-wake-call-better-mental-health-support-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A young Hong Kong family of four found dead in a suspected hotel murder-suicide case at the weekend had planned to fly to Britain on Monday to emigrate, with the lease on their suite ending next month, the Post has learned. The father, a former customs inspector, was found dead on Sunday after jumping out of a window at the Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan. Officers discovered his wife and two sons, aged six and three, dead inside the hotel suite. A source said on Monday that the family’s visa... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319887/hong-kong-family-suspected-murder-suicide-case-were-about-emigrate-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319887/hong-kong-family-suspected-murder-suicide-case-were-about-emigrate-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:33:25 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong was shocked on Sunday by a suspected murder-suicide case in which a father with a history of mental health issues was believed to have taken his own life after killing his wife and two children at a Tsuen Wan hotel. No suicide note was found, but the 37-year-old man had posted on social media before the incident that he was struggling mentally and was very worried about not being able to take care of his family. A source said he had suffered from depression. Police psychologist Michael... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319762/how-can-hongkongers-seek-help-depression-and-what-treatment-available?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319762/how-can-hongkongers-seek-help-depression-and-what-treatment-available?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:30:20 +0000 Oscar Liu,Jess Ma Oscar Liu,Jess Ma A 37-year-old man is suspected of murdering his wife and two children before jumping to his death from a Hong Kong hotel, police have said, adding that they believe the motive was rooted in mental health problems. The bodies of a woman, 36, and two children, aged three and six, were discovered with multiple cut wounds in a room at the Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan, police said, noting that the man had rented the space for a three-month period ending in August. Police said the case had been classified... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319722/woman-2-children-found-dead-hong-kong-hotel-after-man-fell-premises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319722/woman-2-children-found-dead-hong-kong-hotel-after-man-fell-premises?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:31:51 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hongkonger Alan Chan Hei-lun, 43, has been struggling silently with his mental health for the past eight years. His world was shattered in 2017 when a sudden stroke while playing football left his left side paralysed, driving him to attempt to end his life in hospital. Discharged into a harsh new reality, his fight continued as he lost his customer service job at the airport during the Covid-19 pandemic and entered a cycle of being let go by almost every employer during probation as a disabled... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319702/silence-deadly-hong-kong-men-suicide-rate-worsens-over-past-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319702/silence-deadly-hong-kong-men-suicide-rate-worsens-over-past-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 11:49:49 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In June, Secretary for Education Christine Choi pointed to the “bad impact” of the online world as a key driver of Hong Kong’s youth mental health crisis. I appreciate her emphasis on a whole-school... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3319574/hong-kong-must-act-protect-youth-digital-overload?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3319574/hong-kong-must-act-protect-youth-digital-overload?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 03:30:08 +0000 CNA CNA Financial pressures, the strain of caregiving and the demands of building a career are increasingly pushing Singaporeans in their thirties to breaking point, with experts warning of a sharp rise in burnout and suicide among the so-called sandwich generation. Provisional statistics released last Saturday showed that 75 people in their thirties took their own lives in 2024, up from 66 the year before. This age group accounted for the highest number of suicides last year. According to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319671/singapores-suicide-surge-why-are-more-young-men-taking-their-own-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319671/singapores-suicide-surge-why-are-more-young-men-taking-their-own-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 02:23:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s progress in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, attracting tourists, talent and investment, has given the city much to be positive about. But this is not felt by all members of the community and many residents still struggle with their mental health. They must not be left behind. A study by Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong has revealed that 1,138 people committed suicide in the city last year. The rate of 15.1 per 100,000 is the highest since 2003. It is a stark reminder of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318740/boosting-suicide-prevention-must-be-part-hong-kongs-recovery-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318740/boosting-suicide-prevention-must-be-part-hong-kongs-recovery-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 23:15:16 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong man has admitted to committing manslaughter and arson after he unknowingly killed his neighbour when he attempted suicide by setting his public rental flat on fire three years ago. Fung Chun-kwai, 60, pleaded guilty at the High Court on Friday on the basis that his mental illness had substantially impaired his ability to make sound judgments when he committed the offences in the early hours of April 24, 2022. A prosecution case summary said Fung had developed “fleeting suicidal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318767/hong-kong-man-admits-manslaughter-arson-over-death-neighbour-suicide-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318767/hong-kong-man-admits-manslaughter-arson-over-death-neighbour-suicide-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:21:20 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung Hong Kong recorded 1,138 suicides last year, the highest number since 2003, with the rate for men aged 30 to 49 jumping sharply in a 12-month period, an NGO said on Saturday. The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong released the findings of its analysis of the Coroner’s Court’s data, which showed a 4 per cent rise in the number of deaths from suicide compared with 2023. It urged society to maintain its focus on mental health and called for enhanced preventive efforts and support services. Heymans... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318003/hong-kong-recorded-1138-suicides-last-year-highest-number-2003?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318003/hong-kong-recorded-1138-suicides-last-year-highest-number-2003?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 14:15:21 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has sentenced a mother to nine months of inpatient psychiatric treatment at a prison facility after she admitted to killing her son when she attempted suicide three years ago. The High Court on Tuesday adopted two psychiatrists’ recommendations to send homemaker Stephanie Tam Wai-man to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre in Tuen Mun. She was earlier held on remand for more than three years over the death of her 16-month-old son, Jasper Hui Wai-nam, in May 2022. The 45-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3315671/hong-kong-mother-sentenced-9-months-psychiatric-treatment-over-killing-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3315671/hong-kong-mother-sentenced-9-months-psychiatric-treatment-over-killing-son?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:42:26 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Three boys and their parents were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide yesterday,” reported the South China Morning Post on June 10, 1999. “The bodies of Ng Jo-yin, 12, Ng Ho-yin, 10, and Ng Chung-yin, 8, were discovered on a bed with their father, Ng Chung-kit, 42, and mother, Lam Siu-ying, 39, in a Tin Shui Wai flat. “The windows and doors of the flat were sealed and charcoal had been burned. Lam was lying to one side of the three boys, hemming them in against the wall, and Ng was lying... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3313588/when-family-five-died-tragically-murder-suicide-1999?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3313588/when-family-five-died-tragically-murder-suicide-1999?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:14 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education minister has dismissed suggestions to introduce counsellors at schools to address students’ mental health concerns, arguing that the issue should be tackled through concerted efforts across campus, rather than relying on a single individual. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin told lawmakers on Friday that primary and secondary schools in the city had reported 11 suspected student suicide cases between January and April this year. This follows 28 such cases in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313413/alarm-over-hong-kong-student-suicides-minister-rejects-calls-counsellors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313413/alarm-over-hong-kong-student-suicides-minister-rejects-calls-counsellors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 11:30:20 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu At least 15 students in Hong Kong are suspected to have died by suicide in the first five months of this year, according to the Post’s calculations, with the figure equivalent to about half of the total recorded in 2024. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin is set to discuss student mental health and support measures at a Legislative Council panel meeting on Friday. According to the Education Bureau’s figures, primary and secondary schools reported 11 suspected suicide cases between... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313085/15-suspected-student-suicides-hong-kong-so-far-year-set-surpass-2024-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3313085/15-suspected-student-suicides-hong-kong-so-far-year-set-surpass-2024-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:22:00 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hongkonger Mandy was left devastated nine years ago when her eldest son died by suicide, finding herself trapped in a state of silent grief. “I kept asking myself why he chose this path. The son I knew was optimistic, adaptable, and appeared to be living a fruitful life whenever I visited him,” the 63-year-old said. Her son was 22 and in his fourth year of undergraduate studies at a university in Australia when he killed himself. The family only learned after his death that he had been seeing a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312018/more-support-needed-hongkongers-left-bereaved-suicide-cases-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312018/more-support-needed-hongkongers-left-bereaved-suicide-cases-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 May 2025 13:18:47 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung Two-thirds of cases involving the killing of children by parents in Hong Kong over a 15-year period were committed by mothers, with about a third of all perpetrators diagnosed with mental illnesses, a study has found. While the child homicide rate in the city is lower than the global average, the study conducted by four public hospital psychiatrists has sparked calls for greater social support for young single mothers and measures to identify signs of mental risk among fathers. “In this study,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3308979/mothers-more-likely-fathers-kill-their-children-hong-kong-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3308979/mothers-more-likely-fathers-kill-their-children-hong-kong-study?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 May 2025 01:00:30 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The stress of taking care of his elderly parents and family brought 44-year-old Hongkonger Michael to the verge of a breakdown. Already the father of an eight-year-old, he juggles the responsibilities of his regular home life with taking care of his parents and working full time. Michael, who only wanted to provide his first name, said the arrangement put him under a great deal of pressure. He was initially reluctant to seek help caring for his father, who has hearing loss, and his mother, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305397/i-could-only-cry-hong-kong-carers-pushed-limit-ngo-warns-stress-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3305397/i-could-only-cry-hong-kong-carers-pushed-limit-ngo-warns-stress-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:11:15 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu More than 90 per cent of student suicides in Hong Kong over the past five years involved youngsters aged 12 and above, according to education authorities, with many cases resulting from negative interpersonal relationships, learning issues and poor mental health. The Education Bureau said on Wednesday that 131 suicides among primary and secondary students were recorded over the past five years. It also found that the number of students struggling with mental health issues increased by 27 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3304957/over-90-student-suicides-hong-kong-were-youngsters-aged-12-and-above?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3304957/over-90-student-suicides-hong-kong-were-youngsters-aged-12-and-above?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:15:53 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I share the views expressed in the op-ed, “Amid spate of youth suicides, Hong Kong must weave a safety net” (March 16), on the need to normalise conversations about mental health, encourage seeking... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3303734/suicide-hong-kong-dont-pit-wellness-measures-against-medical-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3303734/suicide-hong-kong-dont-pit-wellness-measures-against-medical-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Mar 2025 03:30:09 +0000 A recent spate of student suicides in Hong Kong has reignited public anguish and concern over the mental well-being of the city’s youth, especially with regard to a possible contagious or copycat effect. As chairman of the 2016 government-appointed student suicide prevention committee, I am compelled to revisit our findings and call for urgent collective action to contain any likely spread. The 2016 report explicitly appealed for a holistic and public health approach to suicide prevention. What... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301983/amid-spate-youth-suicides-hong-kong-must-weave-safety-net?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301983/amid-spate-youth-suicides-hong-kong-must-weave-safety-net?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An elderly man was suspected to have taken his own life by jumping into Hong Kong’s Shing Mun River on Sunday. A passer-by spotted the man, 68, floating in the river near the intersection of Tai Chung Kiu Road and Siu Lek Yuen Road in Sha Tin at about 3.50pm. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and pulled the man, who was unconscious, from the water. He was rushed to the nearby Prince of Wales Hospital but later pronounced dead. Police found a pair of shoes and a towel believed to belong to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3300747/elderly-man-drowns-after-falling-hong-kongs-shing-mun-river?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3300747/elderly-man-drowns-after-falling-hong-kongs-shing-mun-river?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:58:39 +0000 When family tragedies happen and dominate the headlines, it is time to sit up and take notice. Sorry tales involving the vulnerable and helpless taking their own lives or dying because of a lack of support or attention are evidence of the inadequacies in services for those in distress. Proactive measures must be taken to prevent such incidents. The recent episode in which a 78-year-old man was found dead with his mentally disabled son unharmed next to him in a Tuen Mun public housing flat is yet... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3299825/boost-monitoring-and-outreach-efforts-protect-hong-kongs-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3299825/boost-monitoring-and-outreach-efforts-protect-hong-kongs-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Feb 2025 23:45:10 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An elderly man and his son were found dead in a Hong Kong village house on Tuesday evening, with police investigating whether the case in Yuen Long was linked to a suspected suicide in the district around the same time. Police said they received a report that two men had been found unconscious in a ground-floor flat in Chun Hing San Tsuen, off Wang Tat Road, at about 8pm. Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the pair, aged 93 and 69, inside. A source said they were father and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3298288/2-men-found-dead-hong-kong-village-around-same-time-suspected-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3298288/2-men-found-dead-hong-kong-village-around-same-time-suspected-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:12:47 +0000 The ambition of Hong Kong parents for their children to excel academically is matched by an education system notorious for its emphasis on achieving results. This single-minded drive for high grades produces an impressive haul of straight A students and propels many young people on the path to successful careers. But it has long been recognised that high expectations, a heavy workload and soaring stress levels can have a serious impact on the mental health of students. The need for a more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3291857/need-shift-hong-kongs-academic-mindset?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3291857/need-shift-hong-kongs-academic-mindset?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:15:07 +0000 The bodies of a 47-year-old woman and her one-year-old grandson have been found near a rubbish bin at a public housing estate in Hong Kong, in a suspected murder-suicide case. A security guard at Tai Ping Estate in Sheung Shui called for an ambulance at about 5.40pm on Friday after discovering the woman lying on a bin off Ping Ching House. The boy, who was later confirmed by police as the woman’s grandson, was found with her. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers from Tai Po district... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3291771/woman-and-baby-die-after-allegedly-falling-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3291771/woman-and-baby-die-after-allegedly-falling-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:59:38 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s largest suicide prevention group has said more pupils took their own lives around the start of the school term this year than during the same period in 2023, calling for more crisis intervention options to better address the stigma over seeking help. Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong said that based on data collected from news reports and its school networks, the number of student suicides rose between mid-August and September, a peak period for cases. Ten children took their lives... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3290845/hong-kong-ngo-warns-pupil-suicide-rise-after-logging-10-cases-amid-term-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3290845/hong-kong-ngo-warns-pupil-suicide-rise-after-logging-10-cases-amid-term-start?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Dec 2024 04:00:17 +0000 Youth mental wellness has emerged as an important public health concern, particularly given the worrying rise in Hong Kong’s youth suicide rate between 2019 and 2022. A slight rise in the rate year on year was recorded in 2023. Over half of suicides among Hongkongers under 15 years were linked to broken families, underscoring the impact of an unstable environment on children’s well-being. In Hong Kong, youth suicide notes have revealed a troubling sense of hopelessness, reflecting the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3284968/hong-kong-government-cant-turn-tide-youth-disenchantment-its-own?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3284968/hong-kong-government-cant-turn-tide-youth-disenchantment-its-own?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:30:08 +0000 World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10. This year’s theme is workplace mental health, which emphasises its importance for not only individuals but also organisations and communities. Hongkongers work some of the longest hours compared to other developed economies, leaving people with little time to rest, let alone enjoy leisure. Furthermore, according to Oxfam Hong Kong’s latest poverty report, over 200,000 working poor live in our city, more than half of whom are employed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281440/hong-kong-must-ditch-work-hard-now-pay-health-later-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281440/hong-kong-must-ditch-work-hard-now-pay-health-later-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Oct 2024 01:30:08 +0000 When schoolchildren taking their lives becomes a growing trend in society, something is clearly amiss. And when a government emergency response turns out to be not tackling the problem as effectively as it should, the need for a thorough review is obvious. The three-tier mechanism was rightly introduced last December amid a worrying spate of suicides at local primary and secondary schools, a phenomenon attributed to post-pandemic stress and other mental health issues common among... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3281239/fine-tune-emergency-response-help-hong-kong-youth-high-suicide-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3281239/fine-tune-emergency-response-help-hong-kong-youth-high-suicide-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Oct 2024 21:45:06 +0000