The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the student suicide problem.

In a written response to a question from lawmaker Frederick Fung in the Legislative Council today, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said the result of this strategy has been a slide in the number of fatal student suicide cases in the past three academic years.

There were 15 cases in 1998-99; 19 in 1999-00; 19 in 2000-01; 14 in 2001-02; and 12 in 2002-03.

In the last two years, the number of attempted student suicide cases has also dropped. There were 10 in 1998-99; 5 in 1999-00; 18 in 2000-01; 14 in 2001-02; and 11 in 2002-03.

Dr Yeoh said the strategy has four main goals:

* to enhance our understanding of the problem;

* to provide preventive, supportive and remedial measures to help with early identification of suicidal students and provide timely intervention and effective support;

* to promote public education and publicity; and

* to strengthen the training of frontline professionals and workers.