Let’s talk about something that’s becoming impossible to ignore – our teenagers are struggling. You might be surprised to learn that the National Institute of Mental Health has found around 25% of teens between 13 and 18 are dealing with anxiety disorders. Without help, they’re more likely to have trouble at school, miss out on friendships, and sometimes even turn to substances to cope. And here in Hong Kong? Well, things get even more intense.
Imagine what’s happening right now across our city. While Victoria Harbour sparkles outside, thousands of teens are still at their desks, fighting to stay awake at 11 PM for tomorrow’s test. It’s not just a few stressed-out students – this has become our new normal.
The numbers tell a pretty scary story. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups found that anxiety is affecting nearly 60% of our secondary school students. But these aren’t just numbers we’re talking about – these are real kids with real dreams who are carrying an enormous weight on their shoulders.
You can’t really separate this from our culture, can you? Our city lives and breathes achievement – everything’s about test scores and university admissions. Parents are trying their best, wanting to give their kids every opportunity, but sometimes those good intentions add up to overwhelming pressure.
Then there’s social media stirring the pot. Between the perfect lives everyone’s posting on Instagram and WhatsApp study groups that never sleep, our teens barely get a moment’s peace. They’re stuck in this endless loop of comparing themselves to others and feeling like they’re never quite good enough.
COVID-19 hasn’t done us any favours either. Being stuck in Zoom classes and kept apart from friends has left a mark.
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Some schools are starting to get it right – they’re putting student wellbeing right up there with grades. Youth groups are creating spaces where kids can just… be kids. Small changes are happening, and each one matters.
Here’s the thing though – we need bigger solutions. Hong Kong’s got to take a hard look at what we consider success. Can’t we find a way to help our kids excel without breaking them? Do we really need to judge their worth by their report cards?
Our teens aren’t just future employees or test-taking machines – they’re young people trying to figure life out in a pretty complicated world. When we talk about a mental health crisis, what we’re really talking about is a wake-up call. Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves: have we gone too far?
The good news? We can change this. But it’ll take all of us – parents, teachers, policymakers, everyone in the community – working together to build a Hong Kong where our teenagers don’t just survive their school years – they actually get to enjoy them.
Got a kid with high anxiety? Get in touch to see how we can help.
