Suicide leading cause of death among insured Hongkongers aged under 25: study
While cancer remains the leading cause of death across all demographics, suicide rates among under-25s have spiked since 2014
Suicide is the leading cause of death among insured people aged under 25 in Hong Kong, an insurance claim study has found, with a professional body warning that holders of term life policies are a high-risk group.
The Actuarial Society of Hong Kong said on Tuesday that its research found that the suicide rate related to insurance death claims involving residents aged under 25 had risen from 9 per cent in 2001 to 25 per cent in 2022, with the incidence higher than in other groups.
The study, which was conducted between 2014 and 2021, analysed more than 105,000 death claims from 13 insurance companies, including AIA, Manulife and Prudential, covering 94 per cent of the market.
Orchis Li Tzy-Lan, a member of the society’s public policy committee, said that among the claims involving deceased young adults and teenagers, 25 per cent of male cases and 23 per cent of female cases were related to suicide.
“When categorised by age bands, suicide cases made up 31 per cent of claims in those aged between 10 and 29, which is not seen in other groups,” she said.
Li flagged three groups as high-risk – men, youths and term life policyholders.