Grenville Cross

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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The case for the prioritisation of the mental wellness of children and adolescents is now overwhelming. Photo: Shutterstock

Grenville Cross

Published: 4:30pm, 20 Dec 2023

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.

The researchers, between 2019 and 2023, interviewed 6,082 children and adolescents, as well as their parents, and found that one in 10 children and adolescents suffered from significant sleeping problems. The most common condition was ADHD, which afflicted 10.2 per cent.

The study also found that almost 50 per cent of carers, despite observing mental health problems in their children, were unwilling to seek professional help for them. This was mind-boggling, and points to a system in need of overhauling.