“Prevalence of Mental Illness Among Hong Kong Youth: Findings and Recommendations from HK-YES Study”

Many mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have had their onset in youth. The research team of the University of Hong Kong found that the prevalence rate of mental illness among interviewed young people (that is, symptoms that could be diagnosed as mental illness in the past year) was 16.6%. Psychiatric or psychological services. Experts said that the research results are related to factors such as childhood adversity, family relationship, and digital life. It is recommended that the government continue to conduct follow-up mental health surveys in order to grasp the mental health data of Hong Kong teenagers.

The Medical and Health Research Fund of the Health Bureau commissioned the University of Hong Kong team to conduct an epidemiological community survey “HK-YES Study” from 2019 to 22, randomly interviewing 3,340 young people aged 15 to 24. It was found that 16.6% of the respondents experienced symptoms of any mental illness such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in the past year, among which depression was the most common (13.7%), followed by anxiety (2.1%). The study also found that more than 40% of the respondents’ stress comes from their studies, 19.4% had suicidal thoughts in the past year, 5% had suicide plans, and 1.5% had attempted suicide.

Chen Youkai, chair professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, HKU, said that the team found that there are four major risk areas in the lives of adolescents: family factors, personal psychology, digital life and ways to face adversity, such as excessive rumination Some negative emotions, thinking about the past), mobile phone addiction, low self-esteem and other factors can all make mental health worse. Among them, family status and childhood adversity are most closely related to mental health, and have a more profound impact.

Wang Mingyan, a full-time researcher at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, added that the society is entering an era of wisdom, and “the change of the times cannot be separated from the Department of Mental Health.” The rise of artificial intelligence may affect young people’s outlook on the future and reflect on their self-worth He suggested that the society, including the government, should think deeply about the impact of a smart society on mental health.

Huang Yanlong, chairman of the Mental Health Advisory Committee, said that this study is the first to conduct an epidemiological survey, which can provide comprehensive and representative data on the mental status of adolescents. He also mentioned that the government has drawn up a blueprint for mental health in the past, describing that it has entered the stage of “construction drawing” and hopes that the government can continue to conduct follow-up mental health surveys. In order to have a more accurate grasp of the mental health data of young people in Hong Kong.

Originally published on AM730