Christian George
Confirmed suicide cases among young people in Hong Kong reached a 10-year high last year, even as the overall number of suicides across the city fell by 10 percent to 1,019, according to the latest report from the Hong Kong Coroner’s Court.
The annual coroners’ report released last month showed that suicide cases decreased in nearly every age group, with the exception of people aged between 10 and 19.
A total of 46 teenagers aged 10 to 19 died by suicide last year, rising from 34 cases recorded the previous year and marking the highest figure in a decade. Most of the deaths involved falls from height.
The report also recorded one suicide involving a girl under the age of 10.
The largest reduction was recorded among people aged 40 to 49, with 138 cases reported last year, representing a 26 percent drop from 186 cases in the previous year.
Although the overall suicide figure was 10 percent lower than the 10-year peak of 1,138 cases recorded in 2024, it remained significantly higher than the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between 2016 and 2019, annual suicide cases in Hong Kong remained between 900 and 990.
People aged 70 and above continued to be the most vulnerable group, accounting for 257 cases, or more than one-quarter of all reported suicides. They were followed by those aged 60 to 69, who recorded 179 deaths.
Men represented 64 percent of all suicide cases, slightly lower than the 67 percent recorded in 2024.
The highest number of fatalities involved men aged 70 or above, followed by men in their 50s.
Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai from the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong said the overall reduction in suicide cases was encouraging, but the increase among young people remained a serious concern.
He said the earlier rise in suicide cases had been linked to the prolonged effects of the pandemic and a wave of migration, which disrupted social support networks and contributed to feelings of isolation.
“Post-Covid-19, we saw a deeply concerning trend of digital isolation, as young people turn to screens and even AI chatbots instead of human connection to solve their problems,” he said.
“This virtual alienation is so critical that many countries like Australia, Canada and Britain are trying to limit the screen time of the underage.”
Although the government has introduced a three-level school-based emergency mechanism aimed at identifying and supporting students at risk, Yip noted that only one in four cases had previously been “known to the system”.
He said some suicides may occur impulsively without obvious warning signs, but stressed the importance of building a supportive environment where young people feel valued and accepted, as many experience a “deep hopelessness”.
“From the suicide notes of young people, we understand that they do not necessarily lack goals. Rather, their goals often clash with parental expectations,” he said.
“They resist living under the weight of others’ expectations, yet find themselves unable to alter their circumstances or break free from parental influence.
“This profound misalignment leaves many feeling deeply apologetic.”
Ahead of the release of university entrance examination results next Wednesday, Yip urged parents to handle outcomes carefully and avoid placing excessive pressure on students.
“Parents should refrain from reproaching their children if the outcomes are unsatisfactory, just as they should avoid taking credit when the results are good – it likely has nothing to do with them,” he said.
Yip added that the Coroner’s Court figures may not represent all suicide cases because of possible delays in case processing. However, he expected the centre’s own analysis, scheduled for release in September after adjustments using its estimation model, to show a similar pattern.
Data from the centre indicated that the suicide rate among people aged 15 to 24 stood at 11.7 per 100,000 in 2024.
According to the World Health Organization, the suicide rate for the same age group was higher in countries including Japan and the United States, at 16.8 per 100,000, while France and Germany recorded lower rates of five per 100,000.
Regarding the decline in suicide cases among other age groups, Yip said it could be linked to government and non-government organisations expanding support for vulnerable elderly people, as well as improvements in the economy. However, he stressed that suicide decisions are usually influenced by multiple factors.
Social welfare lawmaker Grace Chan Man-yee called for stronger suicide prevention measures in Hong Kong despite the overall decline in cases.
“We need to employ different channels to connect with the younger generation … and give parents and students different choices when it comes to intervention,” Chan said.
On elderly suicide prevention, Chan said more measures could be introduced in healthcare settings, including assessments for caregivers and elderly patients suffering from serious or terminal illnesses, to identify risks and prevent tragedies before relationships reach a breaking point.
