Luna Wong was a thoughtful teenager from Hong Kong who developed depression and anxiety following political unrest and pandemic lockdowns that confined her to her home. After her condition improved somewhat, she expressed interest in attending boarding school in the United Kingdom to pursue A-levels, particularly in psychology, and to make a fresh start. Her parents consulted with her psychiatrist, who indicated she had recovered sufficiently to travel. They discussed their daughter’s mental health history with Wrekin College in Shropshire before her admission in September 2022.
Luna struggled to adjust to life at the boarding school. Following the completion of her second year, she traveled to London for a summer school placement. In July 2023, at age 17, she took her own life.
The case has drawn attention to broader issues within the international student sector in the United Kingdom. According to accounts from Luna’s parents, they disclosed their daughter’s mental health conditions to the school before enrollment and believed the institution was prepared to provide appropriate support. However, the incident highlights concerns about how private educational institutions manage their obligations toward vulnerable international students, particularly those arriving with documented mental health needs.
Luna’s parents, Thomas Wong and Hilda Leong, have been left grieving their daughter, whom they had waited 14 years to have. They described Luna in her earlier years as a happy, observant child who excelled academically and formed friendships readily. Her decline began during the pandemic and political unrest in Hong Kong, when extended isolation contributed to the development of her mental health conditions.
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