In Hong Kong, the suicide rate of primary, secondary, and post-secondary students is relatively high, particularly beginning in the 2014–2015 academic year. The suicide cases are not connected, but the frequency of suicides aroused public's attention to the mental health and academic pressure of Hong Kong students.
General background
Statistics Since the commencement of the 2015 school year, a large number of students have committed suicide. Over 70 suicide cases were reported from 2015 to 2017. The alarming frequency of youth suicide is very worrying as the numbers continue to rise. This has raised concerns that students in Hong Kong face too much academic stress. Based on records from the Coroner's Court, there were 70 suicide incidents of individuals aged 15–24 in 2015 and 23 of them were full-time students.
Various media reports state that suicide can be contagious and can intensify copycat effect. This illustrates that more deaths could occur. The distribution of deaths is shown below: School YearPrimary and SecondaryPost-secondary2015–201622162016–201717152017–20181312 It is worth to note that the current data on primary and secondary suicide cases also reveal a significant association between gender and mental illness. In Hong Kong, male suicide rates outnumber female deaths. The Final Report published by the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides (Chinese: 防止學生自殺委員會) suggested the reason may be an unwillingness amongst men to talk openly with health care professionals and treat mental disorders. This is contrary to females who are more likely to seek help.
List of suicide cases
Below are lists of reported student suicides
2014–2015 academic year Student Age Grade (School) Date Reference Chan 15 Secondary 3 15 October 2014 Wong 19 Secondary 6 9 March 2015 Chan 22 Bachelor's degree year 5 (Education University of Hong Kong) 24 March 2015
2015–2016 academic year Student Age Grade (School) Date Reference Chan 21 Associate degree 26 July 2015 Chow 17 Secondary 5 2 August 2015 Boy 19 Studying overseas 12 August 2015 Chan 21 Bachelor's degree (Hong Kong Chinese University) 7 September 2015Chan 11 Secondary 1 10 September 2015 Chu 13 Secondary 1 23 September 2015 Lam 15 gap year 23 October 2015 Ng 17 Post-secondary IVE 24 October 2015 Wong 21 University (Hong Kong Shue Yan University) 4 November 2015 Ng 21 Bachelor's degree 2 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 4 November 2015Leung 18 Bachelor's degree 1 (Hong Kong Chinese University) 19 November 2015Tse21Diploma (VTC)14 December 2015Chan 22 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Chinese University)15 December 2015Wong 15 Secondary 4 16 December 2015Cheung 18 Secondary 6 28 December 2015 Ho 15 Secondary 4 (CNEC Lee I Yao Memorial Secondary School) 4 January 2016Siu 19 Bachelor's degree 1 (Hong Kong Shue Yan University) 6 January 2016 Lee 20 Secondary 6 17 January 2016 Lam 14 Grade 9 (Secondary 3) (Hong Kong International School) 18 January 2016 Wong 21 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Chinese University) 20 January 2016 Lai 12 Secondary 1 12 February 2016 Ng 16 Secondary 5 18 February 2016 Cheung 20 Bachelor's degree 3 (Hong Kong Chinese University) 5 March 2016 Chow 15 Secondary 4 () 7 March 2016 Ng 12 Secondary 1 () 8 March 2016 So 20 Bachelor's degree 3 (University of Hong Kong) 8 March 2016 Cheung 20 Studying overseas 11 March 2016 Tam 11 Primary 6 12 March 2016 Yip 21 Bachelor's degree 3 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 13 March 2016 Chau 22 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 26 March 2016 Kwan 17 Grade 11 (Secondary 5) (Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School) 27 March 2016 Yeung 20 DSE Retaker 4 April 2016 Siu 17 Secondary 4 13 April 2016 So 22 Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts year 4 14 April 2016 Tse 16 Secondary 3 19 April 2016 Wong 18 Studying overseas 24 April 2016 Lau 18 DSE 10 June 2016 Ng 20 DSE 17 June 2016 Wong 14 Grade 10 (Secondary 4) (Yew Chung International School) 23 June 2016 Tse 19 Diploma UOW College Hong Kong (城大專上學院)） 22 July 2016
2016–2017 academic year Student Age Grade (School) Date ReferenceLee 17 Secondary 5 (中華基督教青年會中學)2016/8/5 Cheung 22 Bachelor's degree 3 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2016/8/26Boy20Bachelor's degree 2 (Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education)2016/9/13Leung 20 Secondary 6 graduate (New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School)2016/9/28Wong 16 VTC student 2016/10/4Chan 17 Gap year 2016/10/14 Lau 19 Year 2 (Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education) 2016/10/16 Lee 13 Secondary 2 2016/11/1 Fung 21 Bachelor's degree 4 (香港樹仁大學) 2016/11/12 Chung 20 Bachelor's degree 3 (Lingnan University) 2016/11/21 So 20 Bachelor's degree 2 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2016/11/21 Tsui 16 Secondary 3 (北角培僑中學) 2016/11/23 Ho 19 Associate degree 2016/12/10 Tsim 15 Secondary 2 2016/12/12 Ng 16 Secondary 5 (Tung Chung Catholic School) 2016/12/16 Leung 13 Secondary 2 2016/12/16 Ko 19 Bachelor's degree 3 (Hong Kong Baptist University) 2016/12/19 Chu 25 Secondary graduate 2017/1/12 Lam19gap year 2017/1/22 Yeung 21 Associate degree 2 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2017/1/24 Law 19 Year 2 (Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education) 2017/2/2 Law 16 Secondary 4 2017/2/5 Tsoi 13 Secondary 1 2017/2/6 Tam 15 Secondary 4 2017/2/12 Boy 15 Grade 11 (Secondary 5) (West Island School) 2017/2/17 Lung 13 Secondary 2 2017/2/21 Boy 19 Studying overseas 2017/2/28 Lau 13 Secondary 2 2017/3/1 Tam 21 Associate degree student 2017/3/9 Lee 18 Secondary 5 2017/3/15 Wong 21 Bachelor's degree 3 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2017/3/17 Cheung 20 Associate degree student 2017/3/20 Leung 17 Secondary 4 (Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Kap Yan Directors' College) 2017/3/21 Girl 21 Bachelor's degree 3 (Exchange in CUHK) 2017/4/3 Chan 10 Primary student 2017/4/5 Fong 19 Gap year 2017/4/9 Lee 23 Nursing school year 2 (屯門醫院普通科護士學校) 2017/4/12Chan 20 HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education 2017/4/19 Lau 15 Secondary 3 2017/4/27 Yung 22 IVE 2017/6/26 Sun 19 Studying overseas 2017/6/28 Ho 23 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2017/7/5 Girl21UniversityCity University of Hong Kong2017/7/11Lam 17 Secondary 5 2017/7/27 To 17 Secondary 4 2017/7/31
2017–2018 academic year Student Age Grade (School) Date ReferenceWong 18 Studying overseas 2017/8/6 Ho 17 gap year 2017/8/10 Mak 21 Bachelor's degree 3 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2017/8/13 Ho 15 Secondary 4 2017/8/26 Lam 19 Post-secondary (IVE) 2017/8/31 Fung 23 Studying overseas 2017/9/2 Man 16 Secondary 5 2017/9/5 Ng 17 Secondary 6 (元朗公立中學校友會鄧兆棠中學) 2017/9/25 Ng 20 Associate degree (Hong Kong Nang Yan College of Higher Education) 2017/10/6 Tsang 11 Primary 6 2017/10/12 Mak 17 Secondary 6 (油塘天主教普照中學) 2017/10/12 Chau 19 gap year 2017/10/20 Lam 21 part time student 2017年11月6日 Chin 17 Secondary 6 (United Christian College (Kowloon East)) 2017/11/20 Kan 19 Associate degree (gap year) 2017/11/23 Chan 16 Secondary 5 2017/11/28 Lau 21 Bachelor's degree 1 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2017/12/9 Wong 15 Secondary 4 2017/12/10 Hung 25 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Baptist University) 2017/12/15 Chow 23 Bachelor's degree 4 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2017/12/17 Hung 14 Secondary 3 (Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College) 2018/1/2 Wong 17 Secondary 6 (Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College) 2018/1/2 Lam 17 Gap year 2018/1/14 Tsoi 19 Bachelor's degree 1 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2018/1/16 Chan 17 Secondary 6 2018/1/26 Cheung 21 Secondary 6 (中華基督教會公理高中書院) 2018/2/19 Lam 16 Secondary 5 (中華傳道會李賢堯紀念中學) 2018/2/28 Wan 25 Bachelor's degree 2 (Hong Kong Polytechnic University設計學院) 2018/4/5/ Mak 14 Secondary 5 (神召會康樂中學) 2018/5/6 Leung 22 Bachelor's degree 4 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2018/5/26 Cheung 20 University (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2018/5/29 Poon 11 Primary 5 2018/6/19 Lee 16 Gap year 2018/6/20
2018–2019 academic year Student Age Grade (School) Date Reference Sum 21 gap year 2018/8/1 Tsui 19 University (The Open University of Hong Kong) 2018/8/4 Yuen 17 University (University of Hong Kong) 2018/8/13 Fan 21 University 2018/8/17 Choi 22 Bachelor's degree 4 2018/8/22 Cheung 34 Computer course 2018/8/30 Wong 20 University 2018/9/19 Lee 19 Bachelor's degree 2 (Chinese University of Hong Kong) 2018/9/21 Wong 17 Secondary 6 2018/10/6 Lung 18 展亮技能發展中心 2018/10/7 LAm 17 Secondary 6 (Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College) 2018/10/8 Sum 13 Secondary 2 (迦密中學) 2018/10/10 Chung 10 Primary 5 2018/10/13 Leung 22 University (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2018/11/2 Ng 12 Secondary 1 2018/11/11 Lui 22 Post-graduate degree (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) 2018/11/16 Chan 24 Bachelor's degree 5 (University of Hong Kong) 2018/12/10 Leung 19 Bachelor's degree 2 (University of Hong Kong) 2018/12/10 Chan 16 Secondary 5 2019/1/6 Lai 17 Secondary 6 2019/1/14 Lee 16 Secondary 4 2019/3/14 Poon 16 Secondary 5 2019/3/15
2020–2021 academic year StudentAgeGrade (School)DateReferenceGirl/Boy15Year 112020/11/12Wong12Secondary 1 2021/11/11
Causes of suicide There can be many reasons for suicide. A number of reasons can intertwined with each other and lead an individual to take their own life.
Education in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, "academic results determines the future" is a very common notion. Teachers, parents and students focus on attaining good academic results. This puts great pressure on students to pursue academic excellence. The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) is seen as a "one-off exam". In a poll conducted by the "New Youth World", students rated their level of pressure as 7.44 out of 10 under HKDSE. HK01 (29 March 2017) DSE考核心科目下周開考 調查：考生壓力爆標多源自社會 The life planning support is insufficient in Hong Kong. Students see hard work as their only way out. The pressure is so much so that students neglect their own capabilities and interests. Therefore, students easily feel stressed when they are not performing well academically.
Copycat suicides
Suicide cluster is an emulation of another suicide that the person attempting suicide knows about, either from local knowledge or due to accounts or depictions of the original suicide on Television and in other media.Halgin, Richard P.; Susan Whitbourne (January 2006). Abnormal Psychology with MindMap II CD-ROM and PowerWeb. McGraw-Hill. p. 62. . Imitative suicide is common in the under-25 age group.Romeo Vitelill (August 2012). When Suicides Come in Clusters. Psychology Today. In Hong Kong, it has been suggested that due to the widespread news report of youth suicide, students are driven to copy such suicides.Hong Kong Commercial Daily (13 March 2013). 專家：自殺有模仿效應.
Psychological concerns In 2015–2016, 24 out of 38 suicide cases involved psychological factors.Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides (2016).Final Report November 2016 showed that 13 victims displayed, suicidal ideation and 17 victims showed feelings of hopelessness. However, vital psychological support from schools, teachers, social workers and parents was not enough at that time. Unfortunately, this has not changed; many students still feel alone and helpless and see suicide as their only way out. HK01 (14 Dec 2016).誰來珍惜學童生命？ 評《防止學生自殺委員會最終報告》
Existing support
The help and resources available for students is divided into three categories: universal help (for students in general), selective help (for vulnerable students) and indicated help (for students who are at risk of committing suicide).
Universal help consists of information, workshops and other tools to help and improve mental health and prevent suicide. This helps raise awareness of the topics of mental health and suicide. It is also possible for schools to apply for up to HKD$150,000 from the Quality Education Fund to finance activities related to the well-being of students.