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Suicides in Hong Kong

Suicides in Hong Kong
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
The number of students struggling with mental health issues rose 27 per cent between 2023 and 2024. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong youth

Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s youth must be key part of city’s mental health support

When young people are involved in designing interventions, those interventions are more culturally relevant, better used and more sustainable.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police probe suspected murder-suicide after 2 found dead

Good Schools Guide

Hong Kong students face rising stress, but experts offer coping strategies

Mental health

Letters | Support new mothers’ mental health

Readers discuss post-partum mental health, how to encourage Gen Z parenthood, and filial piety.

A view of Yaumatei Maternal and Child Health Centre in 2024. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong man jailed over attempted killing of father in murder-suicide bid

Au Chi-ming has sentence cut by a third from six years, as defence argues offence was committed ‘not out of hatred, but out of love’.

Hong Kong police

Expat mother in Hong Kong suspected of drowning baby before killing herself

Police investigating after bodies discovered in luxury home in Hong Kong’s Southern district.

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Hong Kong

Video | Why are suicides increasing among Hong Kong students?

Expert says family, school and social life affect students’ stress level most.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong leader’s policy address pushed right buttons on mental health

Readers discuss mental health-related measures in the policy blueprint, the closure of kindergartens during inclement weather, and preserving Hong Kong’s food culture.

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong man pleads guilty to attempted murder of father during suicide bid

Court hears warehouse worker Au Chi-ming, 53, was bedridden father’s sole carer, struggling to pay rent and HK$250,000 in credit card debt.

John Lee policy address 2025

Policy address 2025: more help for Hong Kong students at risk of suicide

Counselling scheme introduced in 2023 will be made permanent in secondary schools and extended on trial basis for Primary Four to Six pupils.

In the first eight months of this year, the Education Bureau recorded 23 suspected suicide cases among students, according to a government source. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | John Lee’s policy address must illuminate Hong Kong’s way forward

With businesses seeing ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for the city’s recovery, residents deserve to know what that means for them.

Chief Executive John Lee waves while visiting Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate, in Kwun Tong, on August 23. Photo: Eugene Lee
Wellness

‘Suicide is everyone’s business’ – Hong Kong charity’s walk for awareness

The New Normal Charity Hong Kong, which offers free peer-to-peer mental health support, has organised a hike along the iconic Dragon’s Back.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s estimated suicide rate rose last year. Who was most at risk and why?

HKU’s Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention says estimated suicide rate in 2024 stood at 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong needs more open and empathetic conversations on suicide

Readers discuss how the city can address the rising number of suicides, and changes to the Hong Kong Sevens tournament.

The 2024-2026 theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Together, we can build a future for Hong Kong where every life is valued

Together, we can create a community where those who need help can find it readily and those who need space are given it compassionately.

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A woman takes part in a poll at a street booth run by the Student Alliance on Student Suicide, to raise public awareness of student deaths by suicide, the reasons behind suicide attempts and to call for greater community concern about mental well-being, in Mong Kok on September 8, 2024. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong to review public housing workflow after mother, son suicide case

Pair reportedly suffered from mental illnesses and were facing eviction before committing suicide.

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Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong father suspected of murdering his children has depression, court hears

Salesman Chen Guocheng, 40, is accused of killing his eight-year-old son and three-year-old daughter before attempting suicide last month.

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Hong Kong police

‘Hong Kong woman accused of killing mother and brother acted under mental stress’

Police say murder suspect recently shared suicidal thoughts and has mental illness history; welfare groups urge expansion of carer services.

A 52-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother and younger brother in a flat in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Family’s death a wake-up call for better mental health support

The suspected murder-suicide came as the city is seeing a rise in the number of people suffering symptoms of depression.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong family in suspected murder-suicide case ‘were about to emigrate to UK’

Family’s visa applications had been approved but their plans to move to Britain were delayed because boy had foot condition, source says.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | How can Hongkongers seek help for depression, and what treatment is available?

Expert says depressed person cannot be ‘cured’ by hike or meal to make them ‘happy again’, following suspected murder-suicide case involving family.

Depression risk increases 1.5 to three times when there is a family history of the condition. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong police

Bodies of young family of 4 found in suspected murder-suicide case in Hong Kong

Police say father, 37, suspected to have murdered wife and two sons before jumping from hotel, with motive believed to be mental health-related.

The bodies of a woman and two children were found inside the Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan on Sunday. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong society

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.

Hong Kong youth

Letters | Hong Kong must act to protect youth from digital overload

Readers discuss a policy response to digital overstimulation, suicide prevention, hotline help, and Buddhist wisdom.

Singapore

Singapore’s suicide surge: why are more young people taking their own lives?

Provisional data reveals a worrying jump in suicides among those in their thirties. Burnout and financial stress are part of the problem.

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A crow flies over buildings in Singapore with the central business district in the background. People in their thirties accounted for the highest number of suicides last year in the city state. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Boosting suicide prevention must be part of Hong Kong’s recovery efforts

It’s not just young people and the elderly at risk, but also middle-aged men, many suffering economic hardship yet reluctant to ask for help.

Yapp Hung-fai (centre), captain of Hong Kong’s football team, and other guests kick off The Samaritans’ “Online Suicide Gatekeeping Course” at Cyberport in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, on May 17 to raise public awareness of student suicides. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong man admits to manslaughter, arson over death of neighbour in suicide bid

Fung Chun-kwai, 60, pleaded guilty at High Court, noting his mental illness had substantially impaired his judgment when he set the fire.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong recorded 1,138 suicides last year, the highest number since 2003

Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong says analysis of data from Coroner’s Court shows 4 per cent rise in number of suicide deaths in 2024 compared with previous year.

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