Hong Kong's Education Minister speaks about the suicide of his eldest son and promises support for the youth

Hong Kong's Education Minister shared her experiences following the tragic suicide of her eldest son seven years ago and promised to support students with mental health problems.

Education Minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Sunday that the incident had left “a big hole in her heart” and that religion, reading, family and friends had helped her cope with the loss of her son.

“When I get obsessed with looking at what I've lost, I tell myself that I'm actually grateful that I had about 20 years of good times with him,” she said on a radio show.

The minister said she did not want to bury her head in the sand, adding that reading books by other people who had experienced similar losses had helped her become mentally stronger.

When asked what she would say to her son now, she replied: “He actually asked me what I would do if something happened to him. I told him I wouldn't forgive him to scare him… But later I told him to calm down. I'm fine now.”

Choi said that despite their busy schedules, her family made an effort to spend quality time together, realizing how precious life is.

Choi's eldest son, Poon Hong-yan, suffered from depression before his death in the Sorrento housing estate in Yau Ma Tei in 2017.

The physiotherapist at North District Hospital was only 25 years old when he died.

Choi also said on Sunday that different sectors would work together to operate an emergency mechanism to support students with suicidal thoughts.

She stressed that every suicide case has complex causes, including genetic, family background, relationship and academic factors, and that it is better to look at the problem comprehensively rather than focusing on a single factor.

Choi encouraged people to find their own ways to reduce stress and vent their negative emotions, such as talking with loved ones, listening to music, exercising or simply taking a break.

Preliminary data from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong showed that the suicide rate among 15- to 24-year-olds rose from 6.2 to 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people between 2014 and 2022.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, help is available. In Hong Kong, call +852 18111 for the government Mental Health Support Hotline, +852 2896 0000 for the Samaritans and +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services.