Supporting youth mental health in Hong Kong while taking a chance to ‘walk and talk’

Mental health has recently become a topic of conversation in Hong Kong. The city has seen a drop in youth mental health levels and a rise in suicides over the last few years.

In September 2024, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service revealed the results of its latest survey. It found that 20 per cent of 1,600 secondary school respondents had symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Samaritan Befrienders of Hong Kong is the city’s largest suicide prevention group. Last month, it reported that 10 students died by suicide from mid-August through September 2024. This was an increase from 2023, when six students died by suicide in the same time frame. The city’s teenage suicide rate reached a 10-year high in 2023.

But even before this, the mental health problems of young Hongkongers have long been a source of concern.

Bruno moved to Hong Kong around 28 years ago. He started The Weez Project with his family in 2018 after his son Jamie died by suicide the year before.

“We started researching suicide in Hong Kong and mental health issues in young people particularly,” Bruno said. He called the issue a “public health crisis”.

The Weez Project raises money for organisations that provide mental health education and crisis management programmes for young people.

In 2020, Bruno realised that funds for The Weez Project were “running a bit low”. He also felt trapped in Hong Kong because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Bruno needed a new challenge. He thought, “Why don’t I walk around ... Hong Kong Island? I’ll do it one day and see what we can raise.”

It took him more than 12 hours to complete the 62km route in early 2021. He raised HK$350,000 from sponsors. This success led him to launch Weez Walk in 2022.

The walk is divided into sections. This allows participants to go at their own pace and complete a distance that fits their abilities. More than 700 people took part in Weez Walk in its first year. In 2024, there were more than 800 participants.

Charlotte Chan participated in the first Weez Walk in 2022. She raised more than HK$26,000.

“Having witnessed first-hand how losing someone to suicide impacts entire families and communities, I wanted to contribute to raising awareness and support,” Chan, 25, said. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. We all have a role to play in helping those in need.”

Chan was diagnosed with depression and anxiety as a teen. She said she received a lot of support from her friends and family.

“Many young people in Hong Kong don’t have access to the same resources, and the stigma surrounding mental illness makes speaking up incredibly hard,” she said.

“Talking is the first step toward breaking the stigma,” Chan explained. “Raising awareness through events like Weez Walk, increasing access to professional help, and normalising conversations around mental health are key. Everyone deserves the chance to seek support without fear or shame.”

Meanwhile, Bruno hoped schools could incorporate mental health topics into their curriculum and get parents involved. He encouraged teens to talk about their mental health, not just with professionals, but with friends and family as well.

Bruno hopes to attract 1,000 participants for Weez Walk 2025, which runs from January 18 to February 2. Those interested in taking part can register here.

If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 18111 for the government-run “Mental Health Support Hotline” or +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans and +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.