Policy address 2025: more help for Hong Kong students at risk of suicide
Counselling scheme introduced in 2023 will be made permanent in secondary schools and extended on trial basis for Primary Four to Six pupils
A scheme providing professional help to Hong Kong secondary school students at a high risk of suicide will be made permanent and the programme extended to Primary Four to Six pupils on a trial basis for early identification and intervention, the city’s leader has announced.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Wednesday the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism for secondary schools would become a regular fixture this academic year.
Upper primary students would also benefit from the suicide prevention scheme, Lee said during his fourth policy address.
Explainer | How can Hongkongers seek help for depression, and what treatment is available?
Expert says depressed person cannot be ‘cured’ by hike or meal to make them ‘happy again’, following suspected murder-suicide case involving family
No suicide note was found, but the 37-year-old man had posted on social media before the incident that he was struggling mentally and was very worried about not being able to take care of his family. A source said he had suffered from depression.
Police psychologist Michael Fung Ho-kin explained that emotional illnesses could not be “cured” by a hike or a meal after which the sufferer could “go home and become happy again”.
The Post looks at the prevalence of depression in the city and the different treatments available.
1. What is depression?
Depression is a common mood disorder affecting 5 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women in developed countries. It is characterised by symptoms such as a persistently low mood, loss of interest and energy, and negative thoughts.
