Dr.Paul WONG
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The University of Hong Kong
Paul is a clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong with research and clinical interests in suicide prevention. He is currently an Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention HKU, Centre on Ageing HKU, HK Police College, National Representative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (2010-2015), and Council Member of the Hong Kong Psychological Society. He has published more than 50 academic articles on a number of suicide-related, and depression-related issues. His recent research interests include social withdrawal behavior, human-animal bonds and companion animal loss, and using animals as part of psychological interventions.
What are we doing and lacking of in helping
young people bereaved by suicide in Hong Kong?
Tens of youth suicides have occurred since the school year of 2015/2016. The traditional and social media is full of discussions about the causes, especially academic stress, the local education system, of youth suicides in Hong Kong. Yet, one very significant perspective relates to youth suicides has been largely ignored – The aftermath of young people bereaved by suicide or suicide attempts. In this paper, I shall briefly introduce the local studies on suicides in Hong Kong, the impacts of the aftermaths of suicide and/or suicide attempts among young people, the existing and “needed” practices for young people bereaved by suicide. The paper will be finished by a discussion on the role of psychologists in suicide prevention in Hong Kong.