Sharp rise in suicide rates among teen girls in Hong Kong, study finds
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong has seen a sharp rise in suicide rates among teen girls, a study has found, with researchers citing the Covid-19 pandemic’s effect on mental health.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong announced the latest suicide statistics in the city on Tuesday, which was World Suicide Prevention Day. While the suicide rate was similar to the previous year, the centre highlighted a rise in teenagers dying by suicide, particularly girls.
A total of 16 females below the age of 15 died by suicide last year, compared to two in 2022. Among male teens, 8 died by suicide last year, an uptick from five in 2022.
See also: ‘Actually I am not happy’: Hong Kong seeks new strategies to stem rise in student suicides
Paul Yip, the research centre’s director, said most suicides were linked to problems at home or at school. In particular, the recent increase could be attributed to the prolonged closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, which made it hard for teens to develop support networks.
He said that reviewing data from previous years showed that many suicide cases took place when in-person teaching resumed and when school began after the summer.
The return to campus came with obstacles such as academic struggles and problems with friends and teachers. Without a strong support network, teens facing pressures in new environments can be hit hard, Yip said.
Lisa Ho, a training consultant and clinical psychologist at the suicide research centre, said teens’ emotions can fluctuate due to effect of hormones during puberty.
Last year, the number of suspected student suicides in Hong Kong reached a 10-year high, with the Education Bureau receiving 31 reports in the first 11 months of 2023.
In January, the Department of Health said a total of 2.8 per cent of Hong Kong students had considered suicide in the 2022-23 academic year. The department noted an uptick in referrals for psychosocial and behavioural problems.
Fall in elderly female suicide cases
The suicide rate in Hong Kong last year was 13.6, calculated per 100,000 people using figures recorded by the Coroner’s Court. In 2022, the suicide rate was 13.7, the centre said.
Meanwhile, the rate of suicides by people aged 60 and above has decreased since 2021. The elderly suicide rate last year was 19.4.
Notably, the rate fell significantly among females aged 60 and above from 15.8 to 11.7 last year, the centre said. But for males, the rate increased from 25.6 to 28.1.
“Elderly men, both younger and older, tend not to actively participate in community activities or seek help, programme manager of NGO Suicide Prevention Services Justin Leung said in the press release. “We should pay more attention to the needs of the elderly and encourage them to seek help proactively when they are emotionally distressed.”
| 💡If you are in need of support, please call: The Samaritans 2896 0000 (24-hour, multilingual), Suicide Prevention Centre 2382 0000 or the government mental health hotline on 18111. The Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology provides a WhatsApp hotline in English and Chinese: 6218 1084. See also: HKFP’s comprehensive guide to mental health services in Hong Kong. |
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