Mind Hong Kong Unveils New Research Ahead of
World Mental Health Day on 10 October
New findings present a contrasting look into attitudes toward mental health in Hong Kong
(Hong Kong, 09 October 2018) – In a continuation of their commitment to alleviating the stigma surrounding mental health, Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) have released new statistics from a large-scale survey on attitudes towards mental health in Hong Kong. The research surveyed 1,210 randomly selected adults across all regions of Hong Kong on their attitudes and knowledge of mental health in the city, using three internationally validated questionnaires.
These selected results are unveiled just in time for World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, 10 October, and provide insight into the full findings which will be released later this year.
- Under 30% of respondents would be willing to live with someone with a mental health
problem in the future (29%), however around two thirds of respondents would stay
friends with someone if they developed a mental health problem in the future (64.8%).
- Over 40% of respondents believed that one of the main causes of mental illness was a
lack of self-discipline and willpower (41%).
- Almost two thirds of respondents felt that it was easy to tell people with a mental illness
apart from perceived ‘normal’ people (61.4%).
- Despite this, most respondents felt that mental illness is like any other illness
(89.4%). Similar levels believed that virtually anyone could become mentally ill (87%).
- The large majority of respondents believed that attitudes towards mental illness
needed to change. 89% agree that there is a need to adopt a far more tolerant
attitude toward people with mental illness.
- When asked about support systems, nearly three quarters of respondents stated that
their workplaces did not provide any programmes of support for mental health needs for
staff (73.4%). Around 60% of respondents stated that they did not know of any other
sources of support for mental health apart from hospitals (60.4%).
The in-depth research commissioned by Mind HK was conducted in collaboration with Hong Kong University, the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (King’s College London) and Time to Change UK, and funded by Aetna International.
“Mental illness is something we should and need to be talking about more,” says Kevin Jones, Chief Executive of Aetna Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited. “We believe that everyone is equally deserving of affordable and accessible treatment for mental issues – as well as support from their employers, colleagues, families, and friends.”
“There is a clear need to change our attitudes toward mental health, in order to shift public perceptions and break down the stigma around it. Everyone facing a mental health problem should have an equal chance of living their best selves.” – Yvette Kong, Hong Kong Olympic Swimmer
Alongside this research, Mind HK have recently launched their #LetsTalk campaign, which asks for citywide community action to transform public perceptions around mental health. To get involved, anyone is encouraged to share an image of themselves or in a group with the hashtag #LetsTalk or #一齊傾 inside a speech bubble and tag back to #LetsTalk #一齊傾 #MindHK. This simple and positive way to increase conversation and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems could save a life.
“The first step to reducing stigma around mental health problems is by increasing conversation. In Hong Kong, we don’t talk openly enough about mental health problems and therefore the stigma is ever-present. The #LetsTalk campaign aims to raise awareness and increase understanding of how you can help. It’s time to start talking,” said Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK.
-END-
Images:
High-resolution images can be downloaded here:
Link: gallery.sinclaircomms.com
Password: talkofthetown
About Mind Hong Kong:
Mind Hong Kong is an initiative formed out of the Patient Care Foundation. It is committed to improving awareness and understanding of mental health in Hong Kong. They provide online support and interventions, based on global best practices to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and to equip them with the resources they need. Through collaborative research Mind Hong Kong are leading the way in understanding mental health problems in the city and providing its population with the right support and resources.
Join the conversation on:
Website: www.mind.org.hk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong
Media Contacts:
For information or interviews, please contact Sinclair
Annabel Lee | [email protected] | (852) 9829 1206
Kelly Chan | [email protected] | (852) 6825 4496
For emergency support please contact the below services:
Samaritans 24-hour hotline: (852) 2896 0000
Suicide Prevention Services 24-hour hotline: (852) 2382 0000
More crisis support services can be found here: mind.org.hk/find-help-now
