Study highlights extreme stress levels and lack of support for parents of special-needs children in Hong Kong
Advocacy group Special Educational Needs Rights Association calls on government to improve availability of resources after finding just one-third of welfare centres in city caters for needs of parents
Parents with special-needs children are under tremendous emotional and mental strain but have much fewer outlets for help, according to an advocacy group calling for more government resources to fill the gap.
A study conducted by the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Rights Association’s earlier this year found only one-third – or 69 – of 219 welfare centres across the city offer help to parents with special-needs children, such as support groups, talks and outdoor activities.
“A previous study the association did showed 80 per cent of parents suffered mild to severe levels of stress. Caregivers are under tremendous pressure, and there was also a tragedy in March when a 6-year-old kid with ADHD was allegedly strangled by his grandmother,” Dr Shirley Hung Suet-lin, of Baptist University, said.
Hung, of the Social Development Practice and Research Centre that co-conducted the study, said parents actually needed more professional help, and guidance on who to turn to for resources.
“Social workers can provide both emotional support and actual guidance to them, including guiding them through the basics about raising special-needs children, and giving them insights into governmental support and the resources [that are] available,” Hung said.