Hong Kong schools reported 86 cases of students suspected to have died by suicide across the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 school years, the Education Bureau said in response to a legislator’s written question. In each year, at least 60% of reported cases involved students aged 15 or younger.
The reported annual count was 30 in 2023/24, rose to 33 in 2024/25 and fell to 23 in 2025/26. The proportions aged 15 or younger were 60%, 67% and 65%, respectively.
The government began implementing a three-tier emergency mechanism in secondary schools in December 2023. From December 2025, it made the mechanism regular and began trialling an extension to Primary 4–6. Between December 1, 2023 and July 31, 2026, the second tier, an external support network, received 855 referrals for follow-up. The third tier, the Hospital Authority’s psychiatric service, received 547 referrals from school principals. Together, the two tiers received 1,402 referrals.
Citing an evaluation by a university it commissioned, the Education Bureau said schools generally welcomed the mechanism, considered it necessary and reported that it gave practical help to students identified as experiencing emotional distress.