The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong, a local non-governmental organization, has formally requested that the government incorporate specialized intervention services into its existing youth suicide prevention strategy. This call to action follows the release of recent coroners' data indicating that the number of minors taking their own lives reached a 10-year high in 2025.

According to the data provided by the NGO, there were 1,019 total suicide cases recorded in Hong Kong last year. This figure represents a rate of 13.57 per 100,000 people. While this marks a decline from the 1,138 cases reported in 2024, the organization emphasized that the current rate remains substantially higher than the global suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000. The NGO argues that the current systemic response is insufficient to address the specific needs of the youth population, necessitating a shift toward more targeted, specialized support systems.

While the report highlights the statistical trend, it does not detail the specific government response or the exact nature of the 'specialized services' proposed. The data underscores a persistent public health challenge in Hong Kong, where suicide rates have remained elevated despite the slight year-over-year improvement. The NGO's recommendation focuses on the need for a more integrated approach to intervention, suggesting that current strategies may be failing to reach vulnerable young people effectively.