Silence is deadly for Hong Kong men as suicide rate worsens over past decade
Men account for 60 per cent of suicides in Hong Kong but make up 45 per cent of the population
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 man. His wife, overwhelmed by the care duties, also filed for divorce last year, taking custody of their 11-year-old son.
Chan’s self-esteem plummeted; he struggled to sleep and suffered a serious flare-up of eczema. He was also diagnosed with anxiety and depression but had to wait months for each consultation with a psychologist.
Suicidal thoughts became a constant companion amid the emotional and financial stress, but he rarely told others about his feelings.
“It is difficult to show one’s weakness as a man in Hong Kong … In Chinese society, men are always expected to carry all the weight and swallow their feelings,” Chan said.