Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (China) said that according to analysis from data from the Forensic Court, the special administrative region recorded 1,138 suicide cases in 2024 - the highest level since 2003. The current suicide rate is 15.1 per 100,000 people, equivalent to about 3.12 cases per day.
The organizer, Mr. Heymans Wong Hon-chi, warned of a worrying situation, especially for men aged 30 to 49.
The suicide rate in the 30-39 age group increased from 19.05 in 2023 to 24.38 in 2024; the 40-49 group increased from 22.06 to 27.46.
Mr. Wong believes that the main cause is related to economic pressure and the role of a family pillar that men in this age group often carry.
Of the total number of suicide cases, 762 were male and 376 were female. Unemployed people account for about 37.5%, manual laborers account for 28.13%, while retired people account for 13.13%. The numbers show a link between the economic situation and suicide.
The organization also emphasized that discrimination related to psychological issues is still a major obstacle in preventing suicide. In cases of intervention, the ratio between men and women is 35:65, showing that men tend to seek less help when faced with difficulties.
In total, the organization has handled 17,342 calls in 2024, including 11,939 support requests. People aged 50-59 account for 19.52% of total claims - the highest among all age groups. Although this age group has the second most suicide rate from below, the number of support searches is the largest, raising questions about whether access to services contributes to reducing mortality.
Ms. Wai Choi-kei - head of the organization's Suicides crisis Intervention Center - said that in the first half of this year, 558 cases were handled, of which 200 were men and 41 cases were related to financial issues. Of these, more than 70% are middle-aged men, showing that this group is under great economic pressure and is prone to mental decline.
The organization called on people in Hong Kong (China) to seek support as soon as possible when negative thoughts appeared.
