What’s ailing Hong Kong? Not just coronavirus-induced panic but also months of mental stress

The Covid-19 outbreak comes at a time when mental health in Hong Kong is at its most fragile in eight years. Hong Kong society is being forced to fight the virus before it can recover from the trauma of the anti-government protests

Justin Bong-Kwan

Published: 6:00am, 7 Mar 2020

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As the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus goes on, Hong Kong seems to be under a perpetual cloud of gloom. On any given day, it is almost impossible to read or watch the news without being bombarded with reports of newly confirmed cases and further disruptions to the city’s day-to-day functioning.

While it is imperative for Hongkongers to take care of their physical health in these challenging times, it is also important to be mindful of how the prevailing societal atmosphere is affecting their mental health.

With the abundance of media coverage of the current public health crisis, there is no shortage of news clips showing scenes of panic buying and of patients being admitted to hospital. For a city that is already on edge, such images can often be distressing, triggering responses that feed into a constant cycle of panic.

Anxiety over risks to public health is further exacerbated by uncertainties surrounding people’s livelihoods as Hong Kong’s economy is thrown into its first technical recession in a decade. The unemployment rate is at its highest in about three years, and is expected to reach 4 to 5 per cent this year.

In the 2020-21 budget delivered by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po last week, it was announced that HK$2.7 billion (US$347 million) would be provided to support job creation and retention. Yet, the bulk of the funds are designated for vocational training programmes and employer subsidies, and are unlikely to directly benefit those who are unemployed.

Although the government also announced HK$25 billion (US$3.2 billion) in relief for ailing sectors hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, residents are still being laid off or pressured into taking unpaid leave.

Companies announcing large-scale lay-offs inevitably stir fear among workers who might be next if the situation continues to deteriorate. Hong Kong courts are still closed, and I haven’t the slightest idea when I will be in court next.

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Indeed, it is clear that concern over Hong Kong’s public health situation is intertwined with anxiety about the city’s social and economic stability.

Thus, many Hongkongers are experiencing a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety. It follows that the coronavirus epidemic presents a challenge not only to the city’s disease control plans but also to the mental health of people who live in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, the outbreak of the coronavirus, which causes the disease now known as Covid-19, comes at a time when mental health in Hong Kong is at its most fragile in eight years.

In particular, Hong Kong society is being forced to fight against the spread of the virus before it can recover from the trauma of the anti-government protests, which experts already worry might cause an epidemic of mental health issues which the city is ill-equipped to deal with.

The government has acknowledged the mental strain on Hongkongers caused by months of social unrest and the current public health crisis.

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In his budget speech, Chan promised to allocate resources to three bureaus (Food and Health, Labour and Welfare, and Education), so as to provide support to those suffering from mental distress. However, no further details about such plans were given.

Plainly, greater efforts need to be made to increase awareness of mental health among the general public and provide better mental health support to the city’s residents. Having pledged resources to bolster mental health services, the government should take the matter seriously and deliver the goods.

If Hong Kong is to truly recover from the recent trials and tribulations, its residents need to be in good health, both physically and mentally.

Justin Bong-Kwan is a practising barrister and a freelance writer based in Hong Kong

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