The causes are complex, and home and school problems are major factors, but the digital environment is a significant amplifier of distress
4-MIN READ4-MINPaul YipPaul Yip is the founding director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong, and a professor at the university's Department of Social Work and Social Administration. Published: 9:30am, 10 Sep 2026As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the global community reflects on a sobering reality: suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide – each life a story cut short, a family shattered, a community left to grapple with unbearable loss.
Their impact on mental health deserves attention. For decades, my team at the CSRP has tracked the data, studied the patterns and advocated for evidence-based solutions. The evidence is overwhelming. Excessive use of social media is correlated with poor mental health and deteriorating family relationships. The causes of youth suicide are complex – home and school problems are major, intertwined contributors – but the digital environment has become a significant amplifier of distress.
