The problem of social isolation is also rampant in China, including Hong Kong. Dr. Andrew Adler, a psychologist and the founder of the Adler Family Centre in Hong Kong, has witnessed the devastating effects of hikikomori firsthand.
“Social isolation among young adults in Hong Kong is an increasing problem, based on my experience with a wide range of clients from varied backgrounds,” says the Yale-educated therapist. Adler sees two main reasons for this phenomenon:
1. Many young individuals struggle with social anxiety, or significant nervousness in a variety of social situations. As a result, suggests Adler, “they tend to isolate themselves from others to avoid the specific social situations that increase their anxiety.”
2. Many others, meanwhile, are depressed, “as they often feel down, sad and irritable. These feelings, among others, result in decreased motivation to interact with others and lead to increased social isolation.”
Moreover, Adler believes “many young people who are struggling with social anxiety and depression, including those who are not, have been greatly affected by two recent societal issues”—not just in Hong Kong, but all around the world.
The first, he says, involves “the several years of limitations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.” This includes the almost instant switch to online education, as well as limited access to venues for socializing. These measures, he adds, “have understandably decreased the frequency of in-person social interactions.”
Second, in this hyper-competitive world, “the increasing demands of work and competitive culture have increased negative stress for many. Taken together, these situations have further isolated and decreased the motivation of many young people.” They are exhausted, disillusioned, and pessimistic about the future.
All of this leaves us asking what, if anything, can be done?
In the abovementioned South Korea, the government has decided to throw money at the problem. Young reclusive men and women are now being offered 650,000 Korean won per month (roughly $485) to re-enter society. Although the Korean government deserves praise for its willingness to address the growing problem, one can’t help but question its “solution.” Money, as the old saying goes, can’t buy you happiness. It can, of course, put you on the path to happiness. However, as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, developed 80 years ago, clearly shows, the need for esteem, purpose, and some type of meaning in life is of fundamental importance. Offering people extrinsic rewards to re-enter society isn’t advisable. A person must be motivated from within. Throwing money at a psychological problem is likely to end in absolute failure.
The only way to address the hikikomori phenomenon sweeping the globe is by raising awareness of the issue, by speaking directly to the people affected. Heightened awareness of parents and teachers, as well as early identification of potential risks, followed by referrals to appropriate mental health specialists, is the only way to challenge the ever-growing crisis. Around the world, millions of young people have lost the desire to engage in social interactions. To change the way they see the world, we must reach out to them, on a human level, and offer them the assistance they so desperately need.
