Suicide rate climbs again among young people in Hong Kong

When suicide rates in Hong Kong peaked in 2003, 1,200 people were killing themselves every year in the city of 7 million, one of the world's highest per capita rates.

Hong Kong (dpa) April 25, 2010 -- The number of young people killing themselves in Hong Kong is rising, a researcher said Sunday.

Paul Yip, who heads a suicide research center at the University of Hong Kong, said the rise in youth suicides came despite a fall in the overall number of suicides to less than 1,000 a year.

Three university students in Hong Kong committed suicide in March in the space of just over a fortnight, drawing attention to the problem of youth suicides.

Some sociologists say heavy study loads and pressure from parents to succeed contribute factors to youth suicide, particularly in the run-up to spring and summer exams.

Speaking on government-run radio station RTHK, Yip said he believed the rise in teen suicides was caused by drug abuse and a lack of support from families and teachers.

When suicide rates in Hong Kong peaked in 2003, 1,200 people were killing themselves every year in the city of 7 million, one of the world's highest per capita rates.

Copyright: dpa