Largest ever Hong Kong mental health survey to involve at least 15,000 people, with focus on young
Aim is to understand extent of conditions such as depression among the young and ensure ‘early intervention’
With a growing number of young Hongkongers seeking treatment for mental health issues, the government will launch its largest ever survey next year to understand the causes and extent of these problems, so that it can formulate better early intervention policies.
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The poll will have at least 15,000 respondents across three groups: students aged six to 17, young people and school dropouts aged 15 to 24, and the elderly aged 60 or above, with a sample size of 5,000 people in each age group. A full report would be ready by 2021, a government advisory committee announced on Thursday.
“Our priority is on children and youngsters ... Early intervention [for mental illness] would prevent such conditions from worsening and causing a greater burden on our health care system,” said Wong Yan-lung, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and the city’s former justice secretary.
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According to Wong, from 2011 to 2016, the number of children and young people seeking treatment for mental problems rose from 20,000 to around 30,000 – an “astonishing” increase.
Half of the children and young people treated for mental health issues also suffer from autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Wong said, adding that more resources were needed.
“More challenging are the youngsters studying in secondary schools with emotional problems such as depression and anxiety disorders. We would like to know the extent of the problem through the survey,” he said.
We would like to know the extent of the problem through the survey