Fern Ngai - Uniting for Hope: The importance of getting more people to work together to prevent youth suicide

𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 Fern Ngai, Board Director and Former Chair of KELY Support Group

The last 17 years since joining the Board of KELY have been an incredible journey of learning and growth for me. It’s been an honour to work with my fellow Board Members and the dedicated KELY team.

Over the years, our programmes have evolved to meet the changing needs of young people. It is heartbreaking to see in daily news reports that mental health challenges among young people are on the rise. In Hong Kong, the suicide rate has alarmingly increased from one to 3 young lives lost per week in recent years. Preventing youth suicide requires a united effort. This complex issue demands a comprehensive approach that brings together diverse stakeholders, including young people themselves, to create a robust support system. To effectively address this crisis, we need a coordinated effort that engages various sectors of society and moves away from reactive interventions. Proactive prevention is key to tackling this issue upstream.

There are several key stakeholders whose responsibility and influence on protecting youth are particularly important:

  • Educators: Schools play a pivotal role in early detection and prevention. Teachers need proper training to recognise warning signs and provide support to create a supportive environment. School-based mental health initiatives are a step in the right direction.
  • Healthcare: Mental health professionals and emergency care providers must collaborate to ensure seamless care for at-risk youth, improving access to services and integrating mental health screenings into routine check-ups.
  • Community Organisations: Local groups can provide safe spaces and supportive networks, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, which are crucial protective factors against suicide.
  • Families: Parents and guardians play a critical role in creating a supportive and loving home environment. Education for families on recognising signs of distress and fostering open conversations about mental health is essential.
  • Youth: Engaging young people in the development and implementation of prevention strategies is crucial. Their insights and experiences can inform more effective and relatable approaches to mental health support.

By bringing these diverse groups together, we can create a comprehensive safety net. A united front, especially one that includes youth voices, sends a powerful message: young people are not alone, and their lives matter. It reinforces that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that support is available from multiple sources.

KELY’s community-based youth mental health programme, Together, We Flourish! aims to do exactly that. By equipping youth at school, we are empowering them to grow into a community that cares about and has the knowledge and openness to discuss youth mental health and suicide with each other.

To turn words into actions, becoming a Monthly Donor is a crucial way to show community support for Youth. Regular contributions provide consistent funding, ensuring that essential programmes and interventions are sustained over time. This continuous support enables us to plan long-term initiatives, respond swiftly to emerging needs, and maintain a stable foundation for our youth mental health efforts. Monthly donations create a steady stream of resources, allowing us to make a lasting impact and provide reliable support to young people in need.

Preventing youth suicide and mental health is a shared responsibility. It requires the commitment and cooperation of our entire society. By working together, amplifying and including youth voices, we are building a future where every young person feels valued, supported, and hopeful about their lives ahead.

Please refer to KELY’s website for information on all of our youth mental health programmes and the different ways for individuals and organisations to support the important work of KELY Support Group.