Tragedy has happened in Hong Kong. Seventeen students have committed suicide since this academic year started.

There has been seventeen students that have committed suicide since this academic year started. A third-year Chinese University medical student took her own life last Saturday is the fifth person to have committed suicide. Soon after, two higher-level students also took their own lives. These tragedies have contributed to more concern about teenagers these days in Hong Kong.

For most cases, the media has reported them. The media has also said that pressures from the students' studies and the lack of love and care from teachers and families are the main reasons. I completely agree. First of all, Hong Kong's economic system is more suited for businesses nowadays - everything is expensive, but most job’s salaries are still very low, such as hospitality. Many people can’t afford a small apartment even if they have been working for over 10 years. If they want to get a great income, then they have to work in a high-level occupation - such as a Doctor or Financial Manage - which also means that you must have achieved a degree or other qualification. It has become subtly accepted that ‘people are defined by their qualifications’ and ‘education level affects your happiness level’.

Secondly, the societal environment in recent years, which values competition and the idea of ‘winning at the starting line’, makes students and parents suffer. Parents want their children to obtain a degree as soon as they can, and work towards it from their childhood. In that time, how many family days and activities, which are very important for children's development, are sacrificed? Instead, there is seemingly unlimited homework and extracurricular lessons.

To solve this problem, a university professor proposed that institutions should be enhance their counselling support for students, especially for university. Because since 2012, Hong Kong's education system switch to a six-year secondary and four-year university has made students enter university earlier than before, which might cause them more pressure if they are not yet ready for university life. In my opinion, I would suggest that parents should appreciate their children not only for study and achievement, but for everything else. Spend time with their children, as much as they can. Because we only live once, there are many different ways to live our lives. There are many things waiting for us to discover. Money does not equal happiness, a Bachelor does not guarantee your future. In conclusion, I believe that governments should be adjust the economic system properly, in order for striving students to access more academic degrees for different subjects, such as sport and music.