Opinion | How improved school counselling can address the mental health crisis in Hong Kong schools

Stigma around mental health issues, poor availability of support services and other concerns are heaping more suffering on our young people

School counsellors are specifically trained to support young people in school settings, but they remain marginalised and underutilised

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Students leave Christian and Missionary Alliance Sun Kei Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O on January 20. The positive effects of school counselling are well established by research. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:15am, 13 Feb 2022

Children and teens in Hong Kong have lower levels of mental health than their counterparts in other regions. This is not news. We know from research over many years that young people in Hong Kong are suffering, and recent articles in the Post have drawn attention to the factors which contribute to this situation.

A high level of community stigma around mental health issues and a reluctance to seek help are compounded by the poor availability and overcentralisation of support services, as well as a society characterised by deep social and financial inequality.

The social unrest of 2019 continues to have an impact, and the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and associated disruption to school operations are huge.

A recent survey by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that 44.6 per cent of school-age children named school as a factor with an “extremely or fairly negative impact on mental health”. Therefore, it makes sense to put more resources into schools, where young people can access them more readily.

A recent Post opinion piece suggested that overcentralisation of the already limited support services available to young people is a barrier to its effectiveness. The government should be working closely with schools to improve and decentralise mental health support.

Structural changes to the high-stakes, exam-oriented education system in Hong Kong are unlikely to happen any time soon. However, suggestions such as incorporating social-emotional education courses into the curriculum have been put forward.

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