More young Hongkongers seek treatment for mental health problems, figures show
Number of youngsters under 15 years old who sought help from Hospital Authority’s psychiatry department jumps 78 per cent since 2010
The number of young people seeking treatment for mental health problems at public facilities increased steadily between 2010 and last year, with the biggest jump – 78 per cent – seen in those under 15 years of age.
The number from this age group seeking treatment at the Hospital Authority’s psychiatry department increased from 12,500 in the 2010-11 financial year to 22,300 in 2014-15, according to figures from the authority.
Dr Ivan Mak Wing-chit, a psychiatrist, said the figure was “worrying” and that the findings were in line with other research in the field indicating young people were increasingly suffering from mental illness in Hong Kong.
“Not only is there a trend of more youngsters having mental illnesses, the age is going down,” he said.
Among those between 15 and 17, there were 4,200 patients seeking treatment at the psychiatry department in 2014-15, a 45 per cent rise from the figure in 2010-2011.
A total of 5,900 patients between 18 and 22 sought treatment in 2014-15, an increase of 23 per cent on the figure four years earlier.