Study finds student mental health in crisis

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups said on Thursday that student mental health is in crisis, after a recent study found high back-to-school stress levels in students, reversing a four-year downward trend.

Conducted last month via an online survey, the survey covered 6,073 secondary school students and asked them to rate their back-to-school stress levels.

The results came back as an average of 6.1 out of 10, with 45 percent rating it between 7 and 10, indicating a high level of stress in them. The figure this year also reversed a four-year downward trend, believed to be linked to increased expectations from schools and parents post-pandemic.

Meanwhile, the survey also found that the average stress score among students ranged between 17 and 22.3, surpassing the threshold of 16 which also indicates high stress levels in students. In particular, secondary six students set to sit in the Diploma of Secondary Education exams exhibited the highest depression score at 22.3.

Concerns revolving around academic performance have been prevalent for five years in a row, the study found. The top items include declining grades (44.6 percent), diminished motivation to learn (37.9 percent), and an overwhelming amount of homework or exams (37.4 percent).

Andy Chan, supervisor of the HKFYG, with the top concerns this year all related to academics, this reflected that students are placing more emphasis on grades compared to previous years.

He called on schools and parents to foster students’ talents beyond academics, instead of focusing only on grades.

Encouragement to develop diverse skills could alleviate the pressure faced by students, which is a holistic approach to education and personal development, he added.