Ages 15-19 at Highest Risk of Suicide: Doctors Highlight 4 Warning Signs During Exam Period

The Department of Mental Health reports that teenagers aged 15-19 have the highest suicide attempt rates, reflecting their psychological vulnerability requiring systematic care. Data from the Mental Health Check-in Application in 2025 showed over 33,000 youth were assessed, with increasing risks of depression, high stress, and suicide compared to previous years. Key factors include academic pressure and exam stress, which can escalate to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and potential self-harm. Four critical symptom clusters to watch include: 1. Emotional symptoms: Feeling stressed, anxious, irritable, self-blaming, hopeless 2. Thought patterns: Repetitive exam-related thoughts, difficulty concentrating, social comparison 3. Physical symptoms: Headaches, stomach pain, heart palpitations, sleeplessness 4. Behavioral changes: Extreme studying, skipping meals, avoiding study, excessive phone/game use The Department recommends the HERO OBEC CARE platform, a comprehensive student mental health management system integrating healthcare and education to provide early screening, monitoring, counseling, and referral support.