The misconceptions and attitudes toward suicide among 299 Chinese teachers and prospective teachers in Hong Kong were assessed using a 30-item questionnaire of common misconceptions, risk factors, and issues related to terminal illness and religious beliefs. With few common misconceptions, the general agreement on the unacceptability of suicide and the rejection of the notion of non-intervention provided grounds for optimism. The uncertain views on risks of suicide threats and concrete planning and on ethical and religious issues were areas for concern. Implications of the findings related to cultural beliefs and to teacher training for school-based prevention programs as well as the caution needed to be exercised in interpreting the present findings based on a sample of young teachers and prospective teachers in Hong Kong are discussed.
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