https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected suicide pact after an elderly couple were found dead in a public housing flat on Sunday, following the woman’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Police received a report at 2.39pm on Sunday that a man and a woman had been found unconscious inside a flat at King Wing House in Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun. A tray of burnt charcoal was found at the scene. The couple, a 72-year-old man surnamed Cheung and a 69-year-old woman surnamed Tse, were rushed to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371316/elderly-hong-kong-couple-die-suspected-suicide-pact-over-parkinsons-diagnosis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371316/elderly-hong-kong-couple-die-suspected-suicide-pact-over-parkinsons-diagnosis Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:44:22 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial World Mental Health Month, observed each October, may not command the same public attention in Hong Kong as it does elsewhere. Yet the latest revelations about suicides among local school children should serve as a sobering call for more urgent action. With those aged 15 or below accounting for 60 per cent or more of suspected student suicide deaths over the past three academic years, and the under-15 suicide rate climbing to 2.9 per 100,000 – the highest since 2016 – the city cannot afford to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have revealed that at least 60 per cent of suspected student suicide cases in the last three academic years involved children aged 15 or below, urging schools to avoid giving excessive homework so pupils can lead a balanced lifestyle. The Education Bureau also told lawmakers on Wednesday that school principals had directly referred 547 students at high risk of suicide to the public health system over the past 2½ years. On average, principals had referred about 17... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370055/60-hong-kongs-suspected-student-suicides-involved-children-aged-15-or-below https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370055/60-hong-kongs-suspected-student-suicides-involved-children-aged-15-or-below Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:18 +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. I read the chief executive’s policy address delivered last week from its first page to its last and one word never appears: hope. Its 11 mental health measures are all about coping. Two gaps stand out. First, the missing middle. Four of the 11 measures target students, teachers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368351/hong-kongs-mental-health-narrative-must-instil-sense-hope https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368351/hong-kongs-mental-health-narrative-must-instil-sense-hope Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The suicide rate among under-15s in Hong Kong rose to a decade-high in 2025, defying an overall downward trend, with social media activity strongly linked to cases among young people, according to research from a local university. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong also used World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday to call for schools to strengthen support for students in light of a spate of suicide attempts around the start of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:51:30 +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. World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 is a timely reminder that suicide prevention cannot begin only at the point of crisis. Hong Kong needs strong clinical services and emergency response, but we also need to make help-seeking simpler and more socially acceptable long... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3366859/suicide-prevention-hong-kong-lets-normalise-reaching-out-help https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3366859/suicide-prevention-hong-kong-lets-normalise-reaching-out-help Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip 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... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Meta Platforms has started sending out alerts to parents whose children repeatedly search for content about suicide or self-harm on Instagram as part of broader efforts to strengthen online safety for young users. Parents supervising a teen’s account can receive notifications by email, text message, WhatsApp or Instagram, depending on the contact information available. They will also be directed to expert resources on how to approach potentially sensitive conversations. Philip Chua, Meta’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365487/hong-kong-parents-get-alerts-over-teens-self-harm-searches-instagram https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365487/hong-kong-parents-get-alerts-over-teens-self-harm-searches-instagram Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:31:59 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung Edith Lin,Emily Hung Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after an 80-year-old man jumped to his death from a residential building, shortly before officers found his 66-year-old wife dead inside their flat with severe head and body injuries. Preliminary investigations found that the couple, married for more than four decades, had planned to divorce due to relationship problems, although authorities had no record of previous domestic disputes between them. The police force said on Monday that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365013/murder-suicide-suspected-woman-66-found-dead-after-husband-jumped-building https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365013/murder-suicide-suspected-woman-66-found-dead-after-husband-jumped-building Mon, 24 Aug 2026 03:35:38 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong should integrate specialised intervention services into its youth suicide response strategy, an NGO has said, as the number of minors taking their own lives reached a 10-year high in 2025. Citing the coroners’ report, the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong said on Thursday that 1,019 suicides were recorded last year, equivalent to 13.57 per 100,000 population. This was down from the 10-year peak of 1,138 suicide cases in 2024. However, suicides among those aged 19 or younger rose to 47,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362428/hong-kong-must-add-specialised-services-tackle-rising-youth-suicides-ngo-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362428/hong-kong-must-add-specialised-services-tackle-rising-youth-suicides-ngo-says Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:29:20 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Youth suicide cases confirmed by Hong Kong Coroner’s Court reached a decade-high last year, despite a 10 per cent overall decline across the population to 1,019. According to the annual coroners’ report published last month, suicide cases confirmed by the court declined across almost all age groups, except for those aged between 10 and 19. Last year, 46 adolescents aged 10 to 19 were reported to have taken their own lives, up from 34 cases in the previous year and reaching a decade high. Most of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3360213/youth-suicides-hong-kong-hit-10-year-high-court-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3360213/youth-suicides-hong-kong-hit-10-year-high-court-report Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Paul Yip,Xiaofang Weng Paul Yip,Xiaofang Weng The latest child suicide figures from the Education Bureau make for grim reading. For three academic years in a row, suspected suicide cases among primary and secondary school students have remained stubbornly high – 32 in 2023, 28 in 2024, and 31 in 2025. Despite a deluge of government resources, the three-tier emergency mechanism in secondary schools and public awareness campaigns, these numbers refuse to budge. We must ask ourselves a difficult question: why are we failing our children? Of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358851/suicide-risk-and-danger-hong-kongs-children-not-feeling-loved https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358851/suicide-risk-and-danger-hong-kongs-children-not-feeling-loved Fri, 03 Jul 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Dicky Chow,Curtis Lam,Esther Loh Dicky Chow,Curtis Lam,Esther Loh Nearly a year has passed since Hong Kong launched the first phase of its carer support data platform last July, linking the Social Welfare Department, Hospital Authority and the Housing Authority into a single alert system for “high-risk carers”. These include those receiving a living allowance as low-income carers of the elderly, carers of the disabled and carers of those who live in public housing estates. To date, the platform has flagged over 3,100 cases through hospital alerts. Care teams... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358389/time-establish-workplace-support-hong-kongs-high-risk-carers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358389/time-establish-workplace-support-hong-kongs-high-risk-carers Tue, 30 Jun 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong should broaden mental health support beyond high-risk students amid the growing impact of social media on young people, a government adviser has urged, as a prominent tycoon pledged to empower more young philanthropists to tackle the problem. Children who had not shown any of the usual signs of intense difficulty at home or school were taking their own lives, according to Dr Lam Ching-choi, a member of the city’s key decision-making Executive Council and the chairman of the Advisory... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358627/widen-mental-health-support-hong-kong-youth-beyond-high-risk-cases-adviser-urges https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358627/widen-mental-health-support-hong-kong-youth-beyond-high-risk-cases-adviser-urges Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:00:19 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The mental health problems faced by the young, leading in extreme cases to suicide, are a long-standing issue experienced widely around the world. But they remain a source of deep public concern, requiring constant attention. There were 91 suspected suicides among school pupils in Hong Kong between 2023 and 2025. The figure rose from 28 in 2024 to 31 last year, despite a range of initiatives intended to improve the well-being of students and provide those at risk with support. Every young life... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3358460/hong-kong-must-tackle-roots-youth-mental-health-crisis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3358460/hong-kong-must-tackle-roots-youth-mental-health-crisis Sat, 27 Jun 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An elderly man has died in hospital after being found hanging in his Hong Kong flat, where his wife was discovered with her head covered and declared dead shortly afterwards. The couple’s daughter visited their flat in Fung King House at Lai King Estate in Kwai Chung on Friday and found her 70-year-old stepfather hanging by several phone charging cables in the living room. She found her 78-year-old mother on a bed with her head covered. The couple were rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358243/elderly-man-found-hanging-hong-kong-flat-last-week-dies-injuries https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358243/elderly-man-found-hanging-hong-kong-flat-last-week-dies-injuries Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:28:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have revealed that 91 students were suspected to have died by suicide between 2023 and 2025, with most cases involving secondary school students and boys. The Education Bureau told lawmakers on Wednesday that the number of suspected fatal cases among primary and secondary students was 32 in 2023, 28 in 2024, and 31 in 2025. An advocacy group said youth suicide was rarely caused by a single factor, but identified family issues as a leading underlying cause in Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3358221/hong-kong-records-91-suspected-student-suicides-3-years-majority-boys https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3358221/hong-kong-records-91-suspected-student-suicides-3-years-majority-boys Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:11:00 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu I’m still reeling from last week’s tragedy in Hong Kong: a mother and her 12-year-old daughter lost their lives to suicide within hours of each other reportedly following an argument about “education problems”. While the causes of suicide are complex, the incident should prompt reflection within the education system. For years, many have tried to point out the impact academic pressure without adequate support has on students’ mental health. We have also noted the effect on teachers and parents.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3356922/pursuit-academic-excellence-hong-kong-shouldnt-be-deadly-race https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3356922/pursuit-academic-excellence-hong-kong-shouldnt-be-deadly-race Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There are reasons suicide cases must be handled with great sensitivity. The potential impact on those affected can be profound and devastating, so much so that more tragedies might follow. The deaths of a mother and daughter in Hong Kong, hours apart following disputes, warrant deeper reflection on institutional support for the vulnerable. The 48-year-old woman, a government social worker with no mental illness record, died after falling from her 19th-floor flat in the middle-class neighbourhood... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356863/mother-daughter-deaths-show-citys-vulnerable-need-better-support https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356863/mother-daughter-deaths-show-citys-vulnerable-need-better-support Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:45:04 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong is reeling from a double tragedy on Wednesday after a 48-year-old social worker jumped to her death from her 19th-floor home in Taikoo Shing after arguing with her 12-year-old daughter about “education problems”. Hours later, the girl also jumped from her living room. The South China Morning Post breaks down the sequence of events and examines how Hongkongers can cope with stress and maintain harmonious family relationships. 1. How did the tragedy unfold? First, a government social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3356926/how-cope-parenting-stress-after-mother-and-daughter-suicides-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3356926/how-cope-parenting-stress-after-mother-and-daughter-suicides-hong-kong Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:16:14 +0000 Kate Chan,William Yiu Kate Chan,William Yiu A Hong Kong school recovering from the suicides of a Primary Six pupil and her mother does not subject students to intense academic pressure, a student and the vice-principal have said, emphasising that promotion to its secondary section is automatic. Their remarks came on Friday as an experienced psychologist advised against allowing surviving relatives to return home immediately after the suicide of a family member at the residence. A 48-year-old woman took her own life at her flat in Lu Shan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3356860/no-academic-stress-here-hong-kong-school-says-after-suicides-pupil-mother https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3356860/no-academic-stress-here-hong-kong-school-says-after-suicides-pupil-mother Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:57:07 +0000 William Yiu,Vivian Au William Yiu,Vivian Au Hong Kong’s welfare chief has defended a “professional” call by doctors and social workers to return a 12-year-old girl to the flat where her mother had just jumped to her death, hours before the child also killed herself. A registered clinical psychologist said the girl should have been moved to a relative’s home immediately, instead of going back to the flat where her mother’s suicide took place. Sources said that the woman, a 48-year-old government social worker with no record of mental... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3356703/deaths-mother-and-daughter-same-day-prompt-concerns-over-academic-pressure https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3356703/deaths-mother-and-daughter-same-day-prompt-concerns-over-academic-pressure Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:37:17 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong merchant has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his wife and three daughters by burning charcoal in their public rental flat two years ago, saying he was “out of options” after struggling to repay debts totalling nearly HK$900,000 (US$115,000). The High Court heard on Tuesday that Wong Pak-ting, 45, spiked the dinner he prepared for his family with sleeping pills before attempting to kill himself with them at their home in Tuen Mun’s Shan King Estate on June 25, 2024. Wong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353244/man-who-spiked-familys-meal-burned-charcoal-flat-guilty-attempted-murder https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353244/man-who-spiked-familys-meal-burned-charcoal-flat-guilty-attempted-murder Tue, 12 May 2026 07:12:51 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong An elderly man in Hong Kong is believed to have killed his ex-wife before hanging himself at a public housing estate, as he reportedly felt “hopeless” after their separation following years of marital conflict worsened by their son’s suicide, police have revealed. Terry Wan King-hang, the Sau Mau Ping assistant district commander of crime, said on Thursday that the force believed the 77-year-old man killed his 71-year-old ex-wife in the flat in Po Tat Estate before taking his own life on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say Thu, 07 May 2026 06:28:18 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An American woman has died after plunging from a Hong Kong hotel’s 29th-floor pool deck, injuring seven people on the ground floor, one seriously. The 69-year-old, a US passport holder who had reportedly suffered from depression and stopped taking medication in March, was staying at Hotel Indigo on Queen’s Road East in Wan Chai with her husband, a police source said. Her husband reportedly left the hotel at about 8am to see a doctor. The woman went to the pool deck and plunged to her death... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352382/woman-plunges-death-hong-kong-hotel-pool-deck-injuring-7-others https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352382/woman-plunges-death-hong-kong-hotel-pool-deck-injuring-7-others Mon, 04 May 2026 10:55:53 +0000 Paul Yip,Harrison Sit Paul Yip,Harrison Sit Student mental health is a matter of great concern. According to the latest data from the Education Bureau, the number of secondary students with mental health issues has doubled over the past five years, from 660 in 2020-21 to 1,330 in 2024-25. In recent years, the government and various stakeholders in society have worked to halt the continued rise in student suicides. However, the number of suspected suicide cases still rose by 10 per cent between 2024 and 2025, from 28 to 31. To help... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350606/10-ways-hong-kong-schools-can-effectively-promote-mental-health https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350606/10-ways-hong-kong-schools-can-effectively-promote-mental-health Sun, 26 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +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. I refer to “Number of Hong Kong secondary students with mental illness doubles in 5 years” (April 15). The doubling of diagnosed cases, and the bureau’s own admission that figures are likely under-reported, should alarm us all. I welcome the government’s decision to extend the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3351230/pathway-hong-kong-pupils-well-being-runs-through-relationships https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3351230/pathway-hong-kong-pupils-well-being-runs-through-relationships Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341297/ai-mental-health-app-helps-hong-kong-students-accentuate-positive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341297/ai-mental-health-app-helps-hong-kong-students-accentuate-positive 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335457/why-hong-kongs-youth-must-be-key-part-citys-mental-health-support https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335457/why-hong-kongs-youth-must-be-key-part-citys-mental-health-support 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3330794/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-murder-suicide-after-2-found-dead https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3330794/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-murder-suicide-after-2-found-dead 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3330206/under-pressure-rising-stress-crisis-among-hong-kong-students https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3330206/under-pressure-rising-stress-crisis-among-hong-kong-students 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3330012/support-new-mothers-mental-health https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3330012/support-new-mothers-mental-health 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329110/hong-kong-man-jailed-4-years-over-attempted-murder-suicide-90-year-old-father https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329110/hong-kong-man-jailed-4-years-over-attempted-murder-suicide-90-year-old-father 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328820/hong-kong-police-investigate-after-mother-infant-daughter-found-dead-flat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328820/hong-kong-police-investigate-after-mother-infant-daughter-found-dead-flat 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3326102/hong-kong-man-pleads-guilty-attempted-murder-father-90-during-suicide-bid https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3326102/hong-kong-man-pleads-guilty-attempted-murder-father-90-during-suicide-bid 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3325880/policy-address-2025-more-help-hong-kong-students-risk-suicide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3325880/policy-address-2025-more-help-hong-kong-students-risk-suicide 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325337/john-lees-policy-address-must-illuminate-hong-kongs-way-forward 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325038/hong-kong-charitys-walk-suicide-awareness-something-move-through-together https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3325038/hong-kong-charitys-walk-suicide-awareness-something-move-through-together 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325056/hong-kongs-estimated-suicide-rate-rose-last-year-who-was-most-risk-and-why https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325056/hong-kongs-estimated-suicide-rate-rose-last-year-who-was-most-risk-and-why 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3324868/hong-kong-needs-more-open-and-empathetic-conversations-suicide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3324868/hong-kong-needs-more-open-and-empathetic-conversations-suicide 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324764/how-safer-hong-kong-can-change-narrative-suicide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324764/how-safer-hong-kong-can-change-narrative-suicide 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324785/hong-kong-review-public-housing-workflow-after-mother-son-suicide-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324785/hong-kong-review-public-housing-workflow-after-mother-son-suicide-case 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324456/hong-kong-father-suspected-murdering-his-2-children-has-depression-court-hears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324456/hong-kong-father-suspected-murdering-his-2-children-has-depression-court-hears 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321603/hong-kong-woman-accused-killing-mother-and-brother-acted-under-mental-stress https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321603/hong-kong-woman-accused-killing-mother-and-brother-acted-under-mental-stress 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3320428/familys-death-wake-call-better-mental-health-support-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3320428/familys-death-wake-call-better-mental-health-support-hong-kong 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319887/hong-kong-family-suspected-murder-suicide-case-were-about-emigrate-uk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319887/hong-kong-family-suspected-murder-suicide-case-were-about-emigrate-uk Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:33:25 +0000