HK students need mental health courses to cope with depression

Survey finds 70% face depression.

A recent survey conducted from October 2012 to June 2013 discovered that 51% of Hong Kong’s high school students display symptoms of depression. In addition, almost 20% of students display symptoms of moderate to severe depression.

A report by the newspaper Mingbao said the survey assessed the mental status of some 4,800 Hong Kong high school students. The survey was conducted by Hong Kong’s Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, a social service group.

It found that the number of students who display symptoms of depression reached some 51%, a rise of nearly 7% compared to last year. The pressure students are facing mainly stems from their studies (27%) and their concerns for the future 23%.

Chen Xiaomei, assistant professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Education, suggests that courses on mental health should be promoted in order to help students create a healthy and positive way of thinking.