Hong Kong boosts support for at-risk students with new suicide prevention measures – Young Post

Under the first tier, schools prioritize helping students at increased risk of suicide by seeking professional counseling or therapeutic services for them. Improved solutions include strengthening the training of parents and staff to identify and support suitable students.

Schools in the improved second tier will no longer need referrals from the Education Office and will be able to seek help directly from external support teams organized by the Department of Social Services. Schools can only send students to teams with parental consent.

“After reviewing the situation of students at risk of suicide, teams will, if necessary, refer students or their families to other social support services,” said the circular the office sent to schools on Friday.

A study has found an increase in the suicide rate among Hong Kong girls under the age of 15

The final level involves principals referring students with serious mental health needs to the Hospital Board’s specialist psychiatric services. Students with urgent cases are given priority.

As of August 31, the office had referred 123 students to the second-tier team, while the authority’s psychiatric service had received 290 third-tier referrals.

The government has also introduced changes to Tier 3, as students who are deemed stable after screening can be supported at a Tier 1 school. While waiting for mental health care, they could also obtain external support under the second level.

However, if their condition changes, these students can seek help from emergency services or psychiatrists at a public hospital.

The government has also provided schools with new guidance aimed at clarifying the criteria for handling cases referred to public hospitals.

For example, students struggling with quite severe emotional problems and having relatively frequent, severe and long-lasting suicidal thoughts, combined with an actual suicide attempt, are considered high-risk students and should be moved to the third tier.

Under the enhanced tier two, schools will no longer need referrals from the Education Office and will be able to seek help directly from external support teams. Photo: RTHK

Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the Jockey Club Suicide Research and Prevention Center at the University of Hong Kong, said the changes introduced under the second tier were in response to concerns raised by observers as the office took time to refer cases and may not provide timely assistance students in need.

The expert also said that an updated third-level solution could enable better collaboration between schools, external support teams and public hospitals.

He added that it is also important to provide students with a stable environment because if their situation worsens, they will need more medical resources and costs.

“I also emphasize that the emergency mechanism serves children in need, and the government still needs to step up its prevention efforts,” the expert said.

Yip has previously said that cumbersome procedures and parental reluctance may be to blame for fewer students receiving second-level treatment, while others have cited long waiting times for psychiatric help as a cause of the problem.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong dial +852 18111 governmental “Mental health support hotline” or +852 2896 0000 for Samaritans and +852 2382 0000 for suicide prevention services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

For a list of helplines in other countries, see this page.