The students in Hong Kong are becoming increasingly susceptible to stress. A survey by the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) found that nearly a quarter of the children and adolescents surveyed had suffered from at least one count of mental illness in the past year, such as anxiety and depression; 3.9 percent had thought of suicide, and the situation was especially serious among secondary school students. The CUHK research team described the problem of suicide ideation among schoolchildren as just “the tip of the iceberg” and urged society to take more preventive actions to alleviate it.
The Faculty of Medicine of the CUHK released two surveys on Nov. 29, revealing the general mental health status of Hong Kong school children and adolescents aged six to 17, as well as elders aged 60 or above. The surveys were conducted between 2019 and 2023. A total of 6,082 school-age children and adolescents aged six to 17 participated in the former, including non-ethnic Chinese youngsters.
The result shows that 24.4 percent of the respondents suffered from at least one count of mental disorder in the past year at the time of the interview, and about half of them suffered from two or more mental illnesses at the same time. The most common mental disorders are “attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder” (10.2 percent), “disruptive impulse control and conduct disorder” (8.8 percent), “anxiety disorder” (6.1 percent), and “depressive disorder” (5.4 percent). In addition, one in ten respondents suffers from sleep disorders.
The survey also found that 3.9 percent of the respondents had suicidal ideation in the past year, 1.9 percent had suicidal plans, and 1.1 percent had actually attempted suicide. The situation among secondary school students was especially problematic, and the rates of those having suicidal ideation, plans, and actions were 8.4, 3.8, and 2.3 percent, respectively.
According to the research team, common risk factors faced by adolescents can be divided into three broad categories: parents with clinically significant emotional distress, children and adolescents with sleep disorders themselves, and academic difficulties (such as repeating classes, suspension, or absenteeism). On the other hand, non-ethnic Chinese adolescents are found to have a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders.
The survey also found that nearly half of the caregivers said that even if the children and adolescents are found to have clinical symptoms of mental illness, they are still reluctant to seek help from professionals. The reasons include underestimating the severity of the issue, fear of stigma, or not knowing how to seek assistance.
Dr. Hung Se-fong, a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, and Clinical Professor (Honorary) of the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, pointed out that problems such as sleep disorders, academic performance regression, or frequent absences in school children are early warning signs of mental health difficulties, and early intervention is recommended. Families and schools need to be involved when developing child and adolescent mental health policies. Schools should also take note of the mental health and resilience of students, rather than prioritizing just academic performance.
Regarding the survey on the elderly, 4,368 elderly people aged 60 or above living in a community home and 503 living in residential care facilities were interviewed. The results found that one in five elderly people living at home suffered from mild cognitive impairment, and 7.4 percent had dementia. These rates are in line with the increase in age, whereas about 70 percent of the elderly living in care facilities suffer from dementia.
The survey also found that 8.6 percent of the elderly suffer from depression, anxiety disorder, or both. The more severe the condition of dementia in the elderly, the greater the burden on their caregivers. However, less than half of the caregivers had received community services, and they generally did not appreciate their own efforts.
Dr. Linda Lam Chiu-wa, a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, mentioned that the survey revealed that if the elderly can be more mobile or are willing to participate in more leisure activities, their cognitive and mental health conditions will be better. She suggested ways such as starting from the primary care level to help the elderly manage their long-term diseases, encouraging them to participate in more social activities, and intervening earlier to delay the deterioration of the elderly’s cognitive impairment.
