Twenty-nine of 100 children with special educational needs who took part in a Hong Kong survey had previously displayed self-harming behaviour, including biting, scratching and hitting themselves. Heep Hong Society and Hong Kong Baptist University’s Department of Social Work conducted the study, which covered children aged six to 18 and collected data from April 2025 to early 2026.
The 29% figure describes the participating families; it is not an estimate of prevalence among all children with special educational needs. Xiaoyu Zhuang, an assistant professor in the department, said the questionnaire was an exploratory starting point intended to address a lack of local data on self-harm among these children. She said the sample could be expanded if more resources became available.
The survey also found that 53% of participating children were at risk in emotional functioning, 51% in social functioning and 17% in school functioning. More frequent parental use of what the researchers called “behavioural disengagement” or “overthinking” was associated with higher self-harm risk; the findings do not establish that these responses cause self-harm.
Zhuang described behavioural disengagement as taking a child away from an emotionally difficult scene. She said parents could then discuss with the child how to handle a similar situation in future. The research also identified parental wellbeing as a protective factor, with Zhuang saying that seeking support together, reflecting on what prompted an episode and recognising a child’s strengths could help families.
One mother told HK01 that her autistic son began self-harming in Primary Four. She recalled that, during an argument with other children at a park, he lost control and started hitting his head against hard objects. She said she held him, listened to him and helped him calm down.
Hong Kong Baptist University has developed a phone app for parents of children with special educational needs, using cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology. It offers mood recording and tracking, educational material, coping strategies and relaxation exercises. Ming Pao reported that recorded measures from an initial try-out involving 25 parents showed improvements in depression, anxiety and parenting stress.
A larger study is planned, with 90 parents expected to take part from early November. The app is expected to launch in early 2027, according to HK01.