Parents to play key role in mental health stakes

Marcus Lum

The Education Bureau has issued a curriculum framework on secondary school parent education that emphasizes the critical role that fathers and mothers play in safeguarding their children's mental health.

All 512 secondary schools, as well as special schools, and organizations or groups can take reference from the curriculum framework, which is designed to equip parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to nurture their adolescent children effectively.

The curriculum framework has four core strands:

? Understanding of adolescent

development;

? Promotion of healthy, happy and balanced development of adolescents;

? Promotion of parents' physical and psychological well-being; and

? Fostering home-school cooperation and communication.

These strands focus on supporting the developmental needs of adolescents and preparing parents to handle the various challenges that arise during this stage.

The framework highlights the importance of parents acting as "gatekeepers" in monitoring their children's mental health.

They are encouraged to actively listen to their children's experiences, feelings and thoughts, and provide adaptive guidance in handling stressful situations.

The framework emphasizes the need for parents to avoid negative or critical responses, as these can further worsen their relationship with the child and the mental condition of the adolescent.

If parents suspect children are showing signs of suicide, they are advised to seek immediate professional support from the school and the community, such as teachers and school social workers.

"We encourage all secondary schools to reference the framework and design parent education activities tailored to their school context," a bureau spokesman said.

"Other organizations, such as parent-teacher associations, federations of parent-teacher associations, post-secondary institutions and non-governmental organizations, are encouraged to use the framework to develop and provide parent education programs that cater to the needs of parents of secondary-level students."

The bureau will hold briefing sessions next month to introduce the framework to stakeholders.