Report: 45 Percent of HK Young Generation Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Syndrome

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the University of London recently published a report stating that under social unrest and the pandemic, 45 percent of the younger generation in Hong Kong suffer from suspected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) syndrome. The Institutes of Health Equity (IHE) at CUHK and University College, London (UCL), which worked in partnership, published the above report recently. It outlines a person’s problems in facing systemic inequalities from early childhood, adolescence, and working life to old age. The report is conducted on existing government data and reports in Hong Kong, as well as academic research, and with reference to internationally accepted standards. The report reveals that in the context of social unrest and the pandemic, mental health problems among Hong Kong’s adolescence and young people are widespread and are deteriorating continuously. A study of citizens over 18 showed that the prevalence of suspected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reached 12.8 percent in 2019. Another study in 2020, with approximately 11,500 people (49 percent of them under 25), also found that nearly half of young adults aged 24 or below claimed to have PTSD symptoms. Mental Health of HK Children Not Optimistic In addition, the report found that the mental health of Hong Kong school children is also not that optimistic. The 2020 study found that the average life satisfaction index of primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong was 6.97. This was significantly lower than the score of a similar study in 2017/18 conducted in 45 countries, where the average life satisfaction index of students was 7.80. Furthermore, only 18 percent of Hong Kong students were very satisfied with their current situation. The report also indicated the stark link between the social class gap and inequality in poor mental health. The higher the socioeconomic status of the family, the better the students’ life satisfaction and self-rated health condition. A recent study on secondary school students in Hong Kong conducted by the Institute of Health Equity at CUHK revealed that during the pandemic, in particular, the mental and social health of students deteriorated, especially for students from socially disadvantaged families. This may be due to inadequate family support, learning difficulties, and loneliness. The report recommends that the government should conduct regular surveys to understand the prevailing situation, allocate resources and take appropriate actions to improve the social factors which affect mental health and reduce mental health disparities among different socioeconomic classes. Low-Wage Earners Work 60 Hours a Week The report, analyzing government data and research, found that workers with lower incomes or education levels tend to face poorer work conditions. For example, employees in low-wage industries such as retail, catering, property management, property security, and cleaning services, whose low wages and long working hours exacerbate their physical and mental health problems, thereby increasing health inequalities. Added to that, low-skilled workers are especially vulnerable to unemployment during times of economic turmoil. The report shows that 17.6 percent of low-wage earners work 60 hours or more per week, which affects their health. They believe that the government and the business community must face up to the problem of employees working long hours. They also suggest that companies should consider providing a more conducive work environment for their employees’ physical and social health. Promoting a family-style friendly workplace culture would also be of added benefit. The working environment should also be free from the risk of work-related accidents. And to avoid excessive working hours, the government should also consider introducing stricter working hours rules. Follow Follow