Experts Offer Six Psychological Strategies to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
As the new school year kicks off, Hong Kong has witnessed a troubling surge in student mental health crises, including multiple suicide and self-harm incidents across the city. The youngest victim was only 10 years old. According to the latest data from the Hong Kong Samaritan Suicide Prevention Society, while the overall suicide rate in Hong Kong declined in 2025, suicide cases among youths aged 10 to 19 climbed to 47—an alarming 30 percent increase from the previous year and the highest in a decade. The organization handled 1,147 cases last year, with 228 cases involving individuals from birth to 19 years old, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all cases. This situation has sparked urgent calls from experts for enhanced mental health support systems targeting young people.
Key Points
- Hong Kong recorded 47 youth suicides (ages 10-19) in 2025, a 30% year-on-year rise and a 10-year high
- The Hong Kong Samaritan Suicide Prevention Society handled 1,147 cases in 2025, with 228 cases (19.7%) in the 0-19 age group
- A 2024 Hong Kong Federation of Youths survey of 6,073 secondary students found 45.1% reporting high back-to-school stress levels
- Secondary 6 students showed the highest depression index at 22.3 points average, while Secondary 1 students averaged 17 points
- City University Associate Professor Fung Lai-shu attributed adaptation difficulties to students' reliance on online communication over face-to-face interaction
- A three-tier mental health emergency mechanism for upper primary students concluded its nine-month pilot on August 31, with 14 students referred to psychiatric services
- Principal Chong Yung-bong of the Aided Primary School Principals' Association recommended extending the pilot by at least one year and making it permanent
- Students' top academic concerns included "grade decline" (44.6%), "low learning motivation" (37.9%), and "heavy homework/exams" (37.4%)
Why It Matters
The sharp rise in youth suicide rates despite an overall decline in Hong Kong's suicide rate signals a critical gap in mental health support for students during academic transitions. With nearly half of secondary students reporting elevated stress and depressive symptoms emerging as early as Secondary 1, experts warn that prolonged accumulation of emotional distress without intervention could escalate to self-harm or worse. The effectiveness of the pilot three-tier mechanism and the need for parental engagement will be pivotal in shaping future youth mental health policies across Hong Kong schools.
The sharp rise in youth suicide rates despite an overall decline in Hong Kong's suicide rate signals a critical gap in mental health support for students during academic transitions. With nearly half of secondary students reporting elevated stress and depressive symptoms emerging as early as Secondary 1, experts warn that prolonged accumulation of emotional distress without intervention could escalate to self-harm or worse. The effectiveness of the pilot three-tier mechanism and the need for parental engagement will be pivotal in shaping future youth mental health policies across Hong Kong schools.