Boosting suicide prevention must be part of Hong Kong's recovery efforts
study by Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong has revealed that 1,138 people committed suicide in the city last year. The rate of 15.1 per 100,000 is the highest since 2003. It is a stark reminder of the need for effective measures to prevent such tragedies.
The report, based on an analysis of Coroner's Court cases, highlighted a significant year-on-year increase in cases involving middle-aged men. A rate of 24.38 suicides per 100,000 was recorded for men aged 30-39, and 27.46 for the 40-49 age group. This demographic has received less attention compared to the well-documented cases involving young people and the elderly.
The NGO believes economic hardship to be a contributing factor. More than twice as many men as women committed suicide last year and more than a third of all cases involved people who were unemployed.
Another factor is the relative reluctance of men to seek help. There were almost double the number of interventions prompted by calls to the organisation's hotline from women compared to men last year.
There must be increased awareness of the need to ask for assistance and the means of doing so, ensuring support is available to help those at risk turn their lives around.
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