Suicidal behaviour among youth is a serious but preventable public health issue. There are multiple risk factors at the individual, family, and socio-cultural levels that lead to suicidal behaviour. Protective factors such as social support, on the other hand, act as important buffer for youth in face of adverse circumstances of suicide. Of the individual factors discussed in the literature, a history of a recent attempt is a powerful predictor.
Local Statistics on Suicidal Behaviour among Youth
(1) Proportion* of youth aged 15 to 19 who had suicide attempt(s) in the 12 months before enumeration by sex, in 2003/04
|
|
2003/04
|
|
Male
|
0.5%§
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|
Female
|
1.6%§
|
|
Overall
|
1.1%
|
Base: Respondents aged 15 to 19
* The proportion is expressed as a percentage of the population in the respective age-sex groups.
§ This estimate was compiled based on a very small sample. Readers are advised to interpret this estimate with caution.
(2) Proportion* of youth aged 15 to 19 who had ever attempted suicide before enumeration by sex, in 2003/04
|
|
2003/04
|
|
Male
|
2.9%
|
|
Female
|
6.2%
|
|
Overall
|
4.5%
|
Base: Respondents aged 15 to 19
* The proportion is expressed as a percentage of the population in the respective age-sex groups.
Source of data:
Population Health Survey 2003/2004. Hong Kong SAR: Department of Health.