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Opinion
In Hong Kong, the alarm bells are ringing for children’s mental health
- Child abuse is on the rise, alongside mental disorders and suicides among youngsters, with too many still not getting the help and treatment they need
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Grenville Cross SC is a criminal justice analyst, a barrister (senior counsel), and a life senator of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP).
Although many children will be celebrating Christmas, some will not. Child abuse is still rife; the Social Welfare Department reported 1,439 cases last year. Much abuse, however, goes unreported, particularly when it involves mental illness.
Although the focus is invariably on children who have been physically abused, some suffer from mental disorders, which can produce unique suffering. Children with special needs, for example, those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes face physical abuse from adults infuriated by their behaviour. They may also be discriminated against at school and in society, and their condition can easily deteriorate.
It’s not hard to identify youngsters needing help; the telltale signs are obvious. If a child or adolescent is depressed for long periods, exhibits confused thinking, worries excessively about things, experiences mood swings, withdraws from friends and activities, or exhibits significant tiredness and low energy, the alarm bells should be ringing.
In November, the Chinese University of Hong Kong disclosed that almost one in four children and adolescents suffered from at least one mental disorder in the past year, and that 8 per cent of secondary students had contemplated suicide. The government-commissioned study showed that 24.4 per cent of children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 had experienced at least one mental health issue in the past year, with half of them suffering simultaneously from two or more such conditions.
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