Mental fitness for men in Hong Kong
Disclaimer: The following article discusses issues surrounding suicide. If you are struggling and require immediate assistance, please dial 999 for emergency services, or look here for other hotlines and resources.
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Hong Kong’s suicide rate in 2024 reached its highest since 2003. Nearly 67% of lives lost were men’s.
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Shame, stigma, and lack of awareness deter Hong Kong men from seeking help, even when distress becomes life-threatening.
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Support starts with awareness. Counselling can help men unpack stress and rebuild healthier coping tools. Transforming individual and societal perceptions around masculinity and mental health can bring change.
John, a 34-year-old accountant at a well-known Hong Kong firm, hasn’t seen a raise in two years even as his mortgage, his son’s school fees, and everyday living costs keep climbing. At home, he tries to connect with his family, but his wife, equally exhausted from work and motherhood, has little energy left for deeper conversation. He ends most nights alone, scrolling through his phone and wondering why he feels so disconnected at home. However, before it’s too late, he shrugs off his worries with a familiar thought: “Other guys are probably going through the same thing anyway.” He decides he will revisit this inner yearning another time, just as he’s done for the past year.
John’s story isn’t unique. In recent years, Hong Kong’s mental health dialogue has often centered on youth, but evidence shows that middle-aged men also suffer significantly from mental health issues. Yet it is often the case that self-awareness or care from others doesn’t come til the end. In the latest report by The Samaritans on Hong Kong’s suicide rate in 2024, 1,138 suicide deaths were recorded, signifying the highest number since 2003. Of these, 67% of lives lost were by men.
While the male suicide rates has been consistently higher than female suicide rates, the increases in suicide rates have been alarming. For men aged 30–39, suicide rate jumped from 19.1 in 2023 to 24.4 (per 100,000 people per year) in 2024, while for those aged 40–49, rates rose from 22.1 to 27.5. The Samaritans report offered the possible explanation that as middle-aged men often bear the dual burdens of career pressure and family responsibility, with economic downturns hitting in recent years, losing a job or facing financial strain can push men past a breaking point.
Despite facing these difficult circumstances, men might not seek the help they need. While men make up around half of emergency hotline callers, only 35% of men (compared to 65% of women) utilized The Samaritans’ suicide crisis intervention services (extended intervention for individuals with higher suicide risk), reflecting a stark contrast to the reality that 67% of suicide victims were men.
The Roots of Reluctance
Why do so many men resist further support, especially if their needs necessitate this care? The report suggested that men might be reluctant to seek further help due to the potential shame related to suicide, and that traditional gender roles in Hong Kong might force them to minimize their emotional need for support. Other studies in Hong Kong also reveal similar results to The Samaritans findings with regards to needs and perception of seeking help.
The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong’s Jockey Club Men’s Space conducted a survey from Dec 2022-Sep 2023 with over 1,800 participants, who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 screening tool to gauge anxiety and depression risks. Close to 60% of participants were 35-54 years old, individuals who might be juggling career and family demands. Their results showed that:
About one-third of participants faced moderate to severe psychological distress, with features of depression and anxiety. Their 2024 survey revealed lower rates (24%).
Self-reported stressors in this survey echoed The Samaritans’ suggestion of the cause of increase male suicide rates: 35% pointed to work-related pressure and 21% to family or marital issues as significant stressors in their lives.
Finally, the survey revealed that 63% of the men surveyed admitted they would not seek professional help when distressed. The study pointed to barriers such as a lack of awareness of mental health symptoms and available services, and the influence of stigma & gender roles, which limits willingness to reach out for help due to fear of being seen as weak or failing traditional masculine expectations.
These findings echo other research surrounding mental fitness for men in Hong Kong and internationally (1, 2). A Hong Kong study conducted from 2015-2018 with 4033 participants revealed that individuals who were working, were male, with tertiary education or above, were less likely to identify both obvious and subtle symptoms of mental health issues in a test. The study also found that those less likely to identify symptoms of mental health issues were also less likely to recommend seeking professional help for those issues. Other studies have found that Chinese cultural beliefs may also affect one’s desire to seek appropriate care from mental health professionals, while the value of self-reliance may be a factor in delaying help-seeking. Evidently, barriers to seeking help exist on a personal and cultural level, and effective strategies needs to focus on reducing stigma, boosting mental health literacy, and delivering accessible support.
Charting a Path Forward
Addressing the increased rate of suicide among men in Hong Kong requires a concerted effort to break down stigma against seeking help, increase awareness surrounding mental health symptoms, and providing mental fitness support tailored to their unique experiences. Studies in Hong Kong have shown that reframing help-seeking behavior as an essential step to providing better care for their families can increase men’s willingness to seek help. Naturally, improving societal attitudes towards mental health help-seeking would help to reduce stigma as well.
Professional counselling also offers a setting to confront these internal barriers. Counsellors and other mental health professionals can create confidential and empathetic settings where men explore personal challenges, identify stressors and symptoms, and develop sustainable coping strategies for better mental fitness. For those shaped by traditional norms, counselling can broaden definitions of resilience and strength beyond self-reliance. Focusing on family roles, family or individual counselling can provide insight into communication styles or relational dynamics relevant to men’s stressors.
Men’s mental health isn’t a niche concern to be brushed over. If you’re a man struggling, reach out today. And if you’re a friend, family member, or colleague, extend an open hand: sometimes, that simple invitation to talk can make all the difference. If you require immediate assistance, please dial 999 for emergency services, or look here for other hotlines and resources.
