Letters | Rise of mental health challenges in Hong Kong must inspire action
- Readers urge Hongkongers to come together to build mental resilience, lament that digital scams are endangering truthfulness, and ask that we all think twice before posting hurtful comments online
One life taken is one too many. As World Mental Health Month draws to a close, we should not cease spreading awareness and dialogue on mental health. The next steps should be to implement action.
While various issues plague people in Hong Kong, the common thread across all age groups is family. We need to be supported by and to support those around us. At times, we may feel we are not supported or that we do not have the capacity to support others. These are the times when we need each other and when we need to build resilience together, be it through family, friends, educational or professional support.
We must start early with mental health awareness, especially during the teenage years, to promote positive well-being, build mental resilience and ensure good mental health literacy among young people and those supporting them.
Amanda, a 26-year old who interned with KELY Support Group shared with us how she “tends to suppress thoughts and emotions”. “After all, when we feel alone, when we feel like a burden, we may want to isolate ourselves. But having support from those around us goes a long way in our journey of mental well-being,” she said. She has struggled with mental health issues since 2014 when she was 17, and attests to the importance of addressing mental ill health from a young age.