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Mental health
OpinionHong Kong Opinion
Paul Yip
Opinion
Paul Yip

Social media must join the fight against teen suicides

The causes are complex, and home and school problems are major factors, but the digital environment is a significant amplifier of distress

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Paul Yip
Paul Yip is the founding director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong, and a professor at the university's Department of Social Work and Social Administration.

As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the global community reflects on a sobering reality: suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide – each life a story cut short, a family shattered, a community left to grapple with unbearable loss.

In Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) at the University of Hong Kong estimates last year’s suicide rate at 13.0 per 100,000 in the population – a slight improvement from 13.8 in 2024. But let me be clear: this is no cause for complacency. The rate among our young people, particularly boys, remains stubbornly high, and that is where my deepest concern lies.
We can no longer afford to ignore the role of social media in the mental health crisis facing our teenagers. Social media has become the landscape of modern adolescence. In the United States, reports indicate that up to 95 per cent of adolescents use social media, with over one-third reporting near-constant use. For young people, these digital spaces are not merely entertainment – they are where identities are formed, relationships are navigated and self-worth is measured.

Their impact on mental health deserves attention. For decades, my team at the CSRP has tracked the data, studied the patterns and advocated for evidence-based solutions. The evidence is overwhelming. Excessive use of social media is correlated with poor mental health and deteriorating family relationships. The causes of youth suicide are complex – home and school problems are major, intertwined contributors – but the digital environment has become a significant amplifier of distress.

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