Letters | Hong Kong students’ mental well-being starts at home

First, mental health challenges rarely stem from a single cause. They typically arise from a combination of life events, internalised beliefs and negative thought patterns. Even when an initial trigger is identified and resolved, distress can persist due to ingrained, unconscious thinking habits. Focusing too narrowly on a cause may hinder progress, retraumatise clients or rush therapy before trust is established.

Many people already have some sense of what they need to do to improve but aren’t ready to act – because what they truly need first is to feel heard and understood. In my experience, lasting change begins not with advice or problem-solving techniques, but with empathy, presence and nonjudgement.

This need for emotional attunement points to a broader cultural context. Although Hong Kong’s culture of comparison is important to discuss, beyond social pressures lies a deeper issue: emotional needs often go unmet in families. Many households show care through practical means – food, education, financial support – while emotional connection and open expression are less prioritised.

These dynamics have lasting effects. Many clients trace their struggles to early experiences of dismissal, criticism or discouragement from expressing feelings. Although these moments may seem small, over time they can damage a child’s sense of worth and become traumatic. Children may learn that their needs don’t matter, that they’re unlovable, or that love is conditional. When combined with external pressures rooted in comparison, these messages intensify feelings of inadequacy and contribute significantly to mental health challenges.

Yet families can also be a powerful source of resilience. As the first point of contact for children, families are where children first learn about themselves, the world and how to relate to others. Even one emotionally attuned parent can help a child develop a secure sense of self, providing strong protection for mental health.