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Hong Kong authorities have streamlined a mechanism designed to help children at risk of suicide after the city leader noted an imbalance in the use of resources and asked for improvements.
The government also announced on Friday a one-year extension of the emergency three-tier mechanism, which was launched in December 2023 and was due to end next month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier asked for improvements after he pointed out that the number of students referred to public hospital psychiatrists under the highest level exceeded those handled by the off-campus support network team in the second tier.
Under the first tier, schools prioritise helping students at higher risk of suicide by seeking professional counselling or treatment services for them. The improved arrangements include strengthening the training of parents and staff in identifying and supporting relevant students.
Schools, under the improved second tier, will no longer need referrals from the Education Bureau and can directly seek help from external support teams organised by the Social Welfare Department. Schools can only refer students to the teams if parents agree.
“After understanding the situation of the students at risk of suicide, the teams will refer the students or their family to other community support services if needed,” a circular the bureau sent to schools on Friday said.