Singaporean teen jumps to death after quarrel with dad

A 14-year-old Singaporean student killed himself by jumping out of the window of his home in Tai Tam after an argument with his father over schoolwork.

The teenager, identified as Lin Yang Kai, had a quarrel with his father, apparently about his poor performance in school, at their residence in Pacific View on Tai Tam Road at around 10 p.m. Sunday, Ming Pao Daily reported.

He then went to his bedroom, and when other members of the family had gone to sleep at around 1 a.m., he opened the window and jumped out of the building.

Lin had been living with his parents and two brothers at Pacific View for five years.

It was learned that Lin’s father was a top student during his school years. He graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point and served as a military officer.

After his military service, he earned a masters in business administration at Standford University, after which he put up his own fund management and human resources company.

Lin was a grade nine student at the Hong Kong International School on Red Hill Road. Lin’s oldest brother is studying in the university while another brother is in middle school.

Hsu Siu-man, a supervisor at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, said teenagers are prone to turn emotional and rebellious as they develop into young adults.

Parents should be more open-minded when dealing with their teenage children and should try to understand the problems they are facing while giving them space.

Parents with high educational and professional attainment tend to expect much from their children, but this could put much pressure on youngsters, Hsu said.

Learning is not meant to satisfy parents’ expectations, she said, adding that they should help their children develop other interests rather than focus solely on academic performance.

EJ Insight supports efforts to help people deal with depression and related issues. Here is the 24-hour multilingual suicide prevention hotline of The Samaritans: +852 2896 0000 (or email [email protected]).

-- Contact us at [email protected]

BT/AC/CG