Supporting Students with Suicidal Risk
The Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (only applicable to secondary schools)
Background
Through the inter-departmental collaboration among the Education Bureau (EDB), the Health Bureau (HHB), and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Three-tier Emergency Mechanism has been implemented in all secondary schools since December 2023. Schools, parents and stakeholders in the public are encouraged to work collectively by pooling together the schools’ multi-disciplinary teams, the off-campus support network and medical services so as to achieve early identification and offer support to students with higher suicidal risk. After reviewing relevant circumstances and gauging the views of the sector, the Government announced in the “2024 Policy Address” that the Three-tier Emergency Mechanism would be extended and enhanced till end-December 2025, with strengthened collaboration and services among the schools’ multi-disciplinary teams, the off-campus support network and medical services. Enhanced measures have been implemented with effect from 1 November 2024.
Major Enhancement Measures
For details, please refer to Item 1. Major enhanced measures include:
(i) The first-tier mechanism
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More training for school personnel will be provided to strengthen their capacity in early identification of students with higher suicidal risk and skills in offering support to students with mental health needs.
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Parent education will be strengthened to enhance the role of parents in supporting students with higher risk.
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The responsible personnel at the second and third-tier mechanisms will maintain close communication and coordination with the school personnel and parents to address the mental health needs of students with suicidal risks, and when appropriate, refer the cases to the schools’ multi-disciplinary teams at the first-tier mechanism for follow-up support.
(ii) The second-tier mechanism
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Schools requiring support from the “off-campus support network” teams can contact their respective regional “off-campus support network” team direct without routing through EDB.
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After understanding the conditions of the students with suicidal risk, the “off-campus support network” team will match and refer them or their families to other community support services as necessary so that they can receive appropriate out-of-school support.
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The “off-campus support network” teams will enhance communication with the school personnel regarding the referred cases, especially the cases transferring to the schools’ multi-disciplinary teams for follow-up after emergency intervention.
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The coverage will be extended to publicly-funded secondary schools participating in the Student Mental Health Support Scheme (SMHSS) as well as not newly identified cases with higher suicidal risk.
(iii) The third-tier mechanism
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Clear guidelines will be provided to schools to clarify the criteria of cases that may be considered appropriate for referral to the psychiatric specialist outpatient services of the Hospital Authority (HA).
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For students who are waiting for the psychiatric services, they can be arranged by schools to receive the first-tier in-school support and services from the second-tier “off-campus support network”.
Related Information
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Item |
Content |
File |
|---|---|---|
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1 |
Details of "The Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism" |
Download (PDF) |
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2 |
Early Identification of and Support for Students with Suicidal Risk |
Download (PDF) |
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3 |
Contact List of “Off-campus Support Network” Team |
Download (PDF) |
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4 |
“Off-campus Support Network” Team Referral Form and Parent / Guardian Consent Form |
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5 |
Reference Guide for Assessing and Managing Suicidal Risk |
Download (PDF) |
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6 |
Referral of student to receive psychiatric services of the Hospital Authority - Designated School Principal Referral Form |
Download (PDF) |
Briefing Session on the "Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism"
| Date | File |
|---|---|
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Nov 2024 |
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