SAR's Mental Health Is Suffering, Says HKU Professor

The head of psychiatry at The University of Hong Kong says there has been an alarming deterioration in the SAR's mental health. Professor Eric Chen was speaking about a study that found many people here were showing signs of trauma and depression after last year's violent unrest, and amid the ongoing health and economic crisis.

The University of Hong Kong surveyed more than 11,000 people from February to July this year – and found more than 70 percent of them showed signs of moderate to severe depression.

Around 40 percent of the respondents had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder…and a sizeable number of people – more than 4,000 respondents - appeared to be suffering from both PTSD and depression.

Professor Chen says the situation is alarming.

He says many people reported that they didn't feel better even when they were able to stay away from the source of their stress, indicating they could be developing mental disorders.

Professor Chen says the coronavirus coming on top of last year’s social unrest, is causing ongoing anxiety, making it harder for some people to cope with their emotions.

He says many feel despondent about the future due to the pandemic, and can be traumatised by the months of protests, even if they didn't take part themselves.

Conflicts within families and between friends also contribute to high stress levels.

Professor Chen says young people are the hardest hit.

He urges people to seek professional help when needed and says the authorities need to work hard on rebuilding trust among the community.