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Concern about suicide deaths

The government is concerned about the increasing number of suicide deaths in recent years and points out that a range of social welfare services is already available to help those in need, the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Andrew Leung Kin-pong, said today (Saturday).

"Family caseworkers and medical social workers are ready to offer counselling and to help needy individuals or families with different support services such as financial assistance, accommodation and day or residential care service according to their needs," Mr Leung said.

"For the adolescents, school social workers, outreaching social workers, children and youth centre workers can also provide counselling and support to students or young people in or outside school," he added.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new centre of the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong at Choi Hung Estate, Mr Leung said suicide is a very complex problem and is caused by various reasons including social, psychological, emotional and situational factors.

Noting that the suicide rate among the elderly aged 65 and above is relatively high, totalling 199, 223 and 210 deaths in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively, Mr Leung said the high rate warranted special attention.

The Government set up a Working Group on Care for the Elderly in November 1993 which examined, among others, the elderly suicide problem.

He said that the problem of teenage suicide is of equal concern to the Government, adding that the known deaths among the age group of 10 to 19 in the last three years were 27, 34 and 23 respectively.

A Working Group on Services for Youth at Risk was also set up in July 1993 to examine the problem, among other major youth problems.

Believing timely counselling and support could help prevent a suicidal act, Mr Leung said that hotline service had a significant role to play.

He appealed to those who are in trouble to seek immediate help from social workers and professional counsellors and to members of the public, whose relatives or friends showing signs of depression, to approach these professionals for assistance.