Tougher than life

To you, what is the meaning of life? Perhaps it is to travel and eat every delicious food in the world or gain a lot of money for entertainment. Yet, no one can tell the actual definition of the meaning of life, so we need to spend our lifetime thinking about it.

Moreover, there are many people in society who ended their lives on their own. In the recent year, tragedies of juvenile suicides have been reported from time to time. In 2021, the suicide rate of children under the age of 15 hit a historical high in Hong Kong, with 11 young people taking their lives, an increase that experts partially attributed to learn disruptions caused by class suspensions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the data from the Coroner’s Court, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention found the rate of residents under 15 who had taken their own lives in 2021 rose to 1.7 deaths per every 100,000 people, compared with 1.2 deaths in 2020 and 0.9 in 2019.

The suicide rate among young people in Hong Kong is increasing rapidly year by year. Many secondary school students encounter difficulties or adversity in exams or relationships. Instead of actively facing or trying to solve them, they easily end their lives by committing suicides. The youth suicide has become increasingly younger and more serious, which has aroused social awareness and concern.

But why the teenagers would have the thought of committing suicides? It’s probably because of teens who have to deal with negative circumstances in their life such as their parents splitting up, dealing with bullying, or the death of a loved one. Besides, they may think they will never amount anything or who think they have become a burden to their parents or loved ones may choose to commit suicide to escape the feelings regarding their personal setbacks. The normal feelings that teens endure can be unbearable and make them believe that these emotions will never end.

Life is tough, and you have to be tougher than life to change the world. Our life is given by our parents and God, a sudden leave will bring an extremely heavy blow to them. No one wanted to see the young off. When there’s life, there’s hope. As long as we are alive, no matter what bad things have happened in the past, there is hope for recovery or improvement. Therefore, we shall treasure and find the treasures in our lives with a positive mindset.

Social Service Society
7 March 2023