Hong Kong must add specialised services to tackle rising youth suicides, NGO says

Hong Kong must add specialised services to tackle rising youth suicides, NGO says David Cheng of the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong says uptick in youth suicide underscores need for regular risk screening Hong Kong should integrate specialised intervention services into its youth suicide response strategy, an NGO has said, as the number of minors taking their own lives reached a 10-year high in 2025. Citing the coroners’ report, the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong said on Thursday that 1,019 suicides were recorded last year, equivalent to 13.57 per 100,000 population. This was down from the 10-year peak of 1,138 suicide cases in 2024, but way above the global suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000. However, suicides among those aged 19 or younger rose to 47, an over 30 per cent increase from 35 in 2024, bucking the downward trend. David Cheng Chung, executive director of the non-governmental organisation, said the uptick in youth suicide cases underscored the need for regular risk screening and specialised services. “This is not a problem of insufficient resources, but that our resources can’t catch up with the needs of teenagers, which are influenced by changes in society and family dynamics,” he said. “Adolescence comes with rapidly shifting priorities and countless issues to manage. As a suicide prevention organisation, our speciality allows us to offer professional guidance and services that more precisely address their needs.” [Image text:] ES: The Samaritan Befrienda