'Economic Downturn Harming HKers Mental Health'

Organisers of a major study said on Wednesday that the impact of the economic downturn is contributing to an "alarming" mental health situation in Hong Kong, as they called on the authorities to put more resources into improving people's mental well-being.

Researchers spoke to 1,000 people to create a mental health index on a scale of 0 to 100. Hong Kong people scored an average of 47, well below the grade of 52 considered by international researchers to be acceptable. It's also down from the mark of 48 recorded last year in the annual study, which takes place to mark October's Mental Health Month.

"This is already the fifth year [the index] has consistently been below the passing mark of 52, which is alarming, which means that we have to focus on what we can do to [improve] the mental health of people in Hong Kong," said May Lam, vice-president of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, one of the groups that organises Mental Health Month.

Lam cited work, personal development, and financial status as the major factors contributing to people's distress.

"It seems that the biggest impacts on people are the job impact and financial impact, maybe because this is almost the third year into Covid. So I think the consequences of the economic downturn are what we are facing at the moment."

The Mental Health Month organising committee commissioned Aristo Marketing Research to conduct telephone interviews in August and September based on the World Health Organisation’s Five Well-Being Index. Respondents were asked to give themselves ratings for statements such as "I have felt cheerful and in good spirits" in the previous two weeks.

The survey found that middle-aged people tended to have poorer mental health, with those aged between 35 and 54 scoring the lowest.

"Those who are in middle age, they're hard hit by the economic development, as well as to ensure whether they can have a job," said Ferrick Chu, executive director of the Equal Opportunities Commission. "They need to take care of both the elderly as well as the children. So work-life balance is really important to them."

Chu urged the authorities to roll out more mental health campaigns and family-friendly policies to help those who must juggle their job and their family.