Hong Kong is an extremely distressing place to live
- Young people ought to be told that feelings of despondence are normal in a stressful situation, both personal and societal
Even in the best of times, Hong Kong has always been a pressure cooker. Now, what with the coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented social unrest of last year resulting in the mass arrests of protesters and rioters, many of them underage, of course young people today are under great stress.
Three mental health services providers have warned of an alarming rise in the number of young people struggling with emotional distress and suicidal thoughts.
Facing school closures, home isolation, family and societal conflicts, and uncertainty about the future, who wouldn’t be distressed? Youths are responding in a perfectly understandable way: Hong Kong has become an extremely distressing place to live in.
Many mental health professionals have a tendency to make feelings of distress and depression undesirable and unwanted, so those seeking help ought to be rid of them.
I know; in my own personal life, I have sought plenty of professional help, not all of them helpful or professional.
Sometimes, you are right to feel distressed, because the situation really is terrible and threatening. And teens are precisely at the age range most vulnerable to developing mental health issues under stress.
