Hong Kong records 91 suspected student suicides in 3 years, majority boys

Hong Kong education authorities have revealed that 91 students are suspected to have died by suicide between 2023 and 2025, with most cases involving secondary pupils and boys.
The Education Bureau told lawmakers on Wednesday that the numbers of suspected fatal cases among primary and secondary students were 32 in 2023, 28 in 2024 and 31 in 2025.
An advocacy group said youth suicide was rarely caused by a single factor, but identified family issues as a leading underlying cause in Hong Kong, particularly due to the instability of blended families.
The bureau told the Legislative Council that about 90 per cent of the cases involved secondary students, while primary pupils accounted for about 10 per cent.
Male students made up about 59 per cent of the total, with females accounting for 41 per cent.
The bureau said that suicide, including attempted cases, was a complex issue influenced by multiple factors.
These were mainly related to interpersonal relationships – such as family, social or relationship problems – and personal issues such as academic pressure, school adjustment, depressed mood and mental illness.
It stressed that each case had its own unique underlying causes.
Data from the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong showed the suicide rate among those aged 15 to 24 was 11.7 per 100,000 in 2024.
The suicide rate of those aged 15 to 24 in developed countries and regions ranged from five to 16 per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.
Japan, South Korea and the United States had the highest rates of 16.8 per 100,000 people while France and Germany had the lowest at five per 100,000.
In 2023, Hong Kong implemented a three-tier emergency mechanism in all secondary schools, which was extended to Primary Four to Six students in the current school year.
First-tier help is provided by the schools’ professionals, such as counsellors, social workers, and educational psychologists, who offer advice and therapy to at-risk pupils.
The second tier allows schools to seek support from off-campus network teams engaged by the Social Welfare Department.
The number of cases referred to external support jumped from 104 in 2023–24 to 299 in 2024–25, and further up to 330 this school year as of March, marking an increase of over 200 per cent.
Under the third-tier, principals can directly refer students at high risk to psychiatric specialist outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority for assessment and treatment. In 2024, the government offered clear guidelines for these referrals to avoid misuse.
Referrals under the third tier fell from 292 in 2023-24 to 152 in 2024-25 and 63 in 2025-26, showing a clear downward trend after the revised the mechanism.

Heather Yeung, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Student Alliance on Student Suicide and a social work undergraduate, said the reasons why students committed suicide were complex and diverse, but noted that the most common cause stemmed from family issues.
Her alliance was formed by a group of youngsters in 2023 after witnessing a rising number of student suicide cases in Hong Kong, in a bid to raise public awareness on the issue.
She said family issues leading up to suicide were no longer limited to divorced families, but also caused by unstable blended families and changing family structures.
“This is a new and prevalent trend in this era, leaving students without a sense of security at home and even causing them to feel confused about their roles,” she said.
“In the past, family dynamics were complicated enough when parents divorced and formed single-parent families. Today, remarriages create even greater complexity, with children navigating relationships with step-siblings or half-siblings who do not share the same parents.
“The core issue is whether these blended families can treat all children equally and support their development. It often leaves children questioning whether they are truly loved and how to navigate relationships with their new parental figures.”
She urged the government to establish a dedicated committee to analyse individual cases, raise public awareness and support schools.
“Revealing more details allows for more help later on, such as identifying which districts have the highest case numbers or where these tragedies typically occur. Given the rising number of students taking their own lives on campus, are these youth attempting to lodge a complaint through their actions?” she said.
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline.
You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.