Hong Kong programme to give professional aid to students at high risk of suicide extended until the end of the year

“After reviewing the relevant circumstances and listening to the views of the sector, the government has decided to extend the implementation period of the mechanism and will continue to closely monitor the operation of the mechanism,” a government spokesman said.

The scheme was rolled out after the number of suspected suicide cases among primary and secondary school pupils increased.

Cases reported by schools have crept up in recent years with 14 cases in 2018, 23 cases in 2019, 21 cases in 2020 and 25 cases in both 2021 and 2022. There were 31 last year.

1.6% of Hong Kong secondary students attempted suicide in the last academic year

An official survey of 330,000 schoolchildren found 1.6 per cent tried to take their own lives in the last academic year and 3.7 per cent considered killing themselves, the Department of Health said in January.

In December, education authorities attributed the trend to factors such as the pandemic and the hurdles students faced after the city’s return to normality.

Under the mechanism’s first tier, schools prioritise counselling students at higher suicidal risk through the institution’s interdisciplinary team by providing timely assistance or seeking professional counselling or treatment services for them.

If schools are short on manpower, education authorities then apply the second tier assistance by referring the cases to the off-campus support network team organised by the Social Welfare Department. An Education Bureau spokeswoman said 49 cases were referred by schools to the department.

Under the final tier, school principals refer students with severe mental health needs to the psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority and students in urgent cases are prioritised.

The authority set up a telephone consultation hotline specifically for school principals. A spokesman for the authority said there were 50 referrals from school principals via the mechanism as of January 15.

25% of Hong Kong children and adolescents faced mental disorder in past year

Michelle Li Mei-sheung, permanent secretary for education, said in January that the second tier involved additional resources as authorities had to refer the cases to external organisations for help.

Besides the extension, education authorities will organise more than 40 training courses and workshops for schools from this month to March to teach related practical skills, counselling techniques and intervention strategies. The speakers are psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and registered social workers.

The government also announced that non-governmental organisations would visit secondary schools to organise mental health activities from February to April, to help students “develop positive thinking” as well as “strengthen their adaptability”.

Lee Yi-ying, the chairwoman of the Subsidised Secondary School Council, said the extension would help schools that are “overwhelmed” while adding that September was the “peak season” for schools as students return to classes that period.

“Students will generally get nervous and mental health issues may arise during the commencement of the new school year,” she said.

If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline. You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.