Paul Yip

Opinion | Hong Kong schools must remain open, despite surge in Covid-19 cases, to protect young people’s mental well-being

With another school year starting and no sign of a let-up in Covid-19 restrictions, young people’s mental health and social development continue to suffer

The rise in suicides and those needing support show the damage that has already been done, and further disruptions would only make things worse

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Paul Yip

Published: 9:15am, 1 Sep 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe economic, social and emotional impact around the globe. But, while much of the world is returning to some kind of normal, Hong Kong is still searching for a way out.

Of course, the large number of deaths among older adults during the fifth wave earlier this year was tragic and must not be repeated. Yet, in contrast, young people who are infected with the coronavirus tend to suffer relatively mild symptoms and have a good prognosis for recovery – but they are the ones paying a high price for the city’s strict Covid-19 policies. Their learning and social lives have been massively disrupted over the past 2½ years.

Their educational progress and the mutual emotional support usually built up through school activities have been heavily compromised, and perhaps sacrificed altogether. A recent survey by the Lutheran Social Service has highlighted the unintended consequences of the social distancing rules that came into force during the pandemic.

An increasing preference to avoid social activities, spending more time on social media and a growing risk of acute social withdrawal have become prevalent among young people. Remote learning is less effective, especially for young students, and reduces interaction among classmates that helps them build social bonds with each other.

Students from low-income groups have suffered disproportionately because of insufficient resources and parental support, with the disparity between the haves and have-nots becoming more serious. Enforcing social distancing without sufficient backup plans has led to increased isolation. The number of young people suffering depression is surging amid the pandemic.

02:19

Covid-19 is taking a ‘deep toll’ on Hong Kong's mental health, top government adviser Wong Yan-lung

Elsewhere, closing schools has been a last resort in trying to contain the spread of Covid-19 as other places understand the collateral damage it can inflict on young people. Unfortunately, in Hong Kong, children’s school days seem to be the first casualty, and this has created many unintended consequences that will weigh on students’ well-being and development.