3 students, including 11-year-old, fall to their deaths over the weekend

Three students, including an 11-year-old, fell to their deaths over the weekend, raising the number of student deaths in similar circumstances to 23 since the beginning of the academic year.

On Friday, a 20-year-old male student was found unconscious on a terrace of his apartment building in South Horizons, Oriental Daily reports. The student, surnamed Yip, was reportedly found by a neighbour at around 1pm, and confirmed dead at the scene.

The next day, an 11-year-old girl was reported to have fallen to her death in Sha Tin. She was found at 11:26am in Jat Min Chuen public housing estate, where she resided with her family. According to Ming Pao, the girl was rushed to the hospital, but could not be revived.

At around 1pm yesterday afternoon, a 21-year-old student at PolyU was found lying unconscious at Hong Sing Garden in Tseung Kwan O, HK01 reports

A total of seven student deaths have been reported in the last nine days, raising the tally of student deaths to 23 since September.

In comparison, the HKU’s Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention has recorded an average of 23 student suicides a year between 2010 and 2014, SCMP reports. Professor Paul Yip, who leads the Centre, stated that an average of two or three university student suicides were reported per academic year between 2010 and 2014, in comparison to the 10 tertiary students who have died between now and September 2015.

Speaking to the SCMP, Yip said that the current exam-oriented education system has burdened students with undue pressure, and caused them to become averse to school.

A clinical psychologist from the Centre, Angie Shum, said that overprotective parents have resulted in children who are unable to overcome obstacles and adversity. Shum elaborated that such children are often prone to flights of impulsive behaviour.

If you are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, please call the Samaritans‘ 24-hour hotline at 2896 0000 for help.
 


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