Index measuring if Hong Kong pupils feel life worth living falls to 7-year low

An annual study of Hong Kong pupils has found that an index measuring whether they feel life is worth living has fallen to its lowest level in seven years, prompting experts to call on parents and educators to pay closer attention to early signs of poor mental health in children.

The study by three local universities covering more than 3,500 students in primary and secondary schools also revealed that about one in five pupils said they had been bullied in the past year, with those suffering from higher levels of academic stress reporting more incidents of being tormented.

Professor Ho Lok-sang from Lingnan University’s STEAM Education and Research Centre said on Wednesday the findings were “concerning”.

According to the study, the life worth living index fell for the third straight year to stand at 6.74 out of 10. The older the student, the lower his or her score was on the index.

“A student would not find life worth living if he or she could not see a meaning or purpose [in life],” Ho said. “With parents putting so much emphasis on grades after the pandemic, the atmosphere has become toxic for students … who could lose their purpose in life.”

That mindset was linked to suicide, he noted. The suicide rate of people aged below 15 climbed to a 10-year high in 2023, which experts attributed to the lack of support networks when classes were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.