Survey finds a quarter of Hong Kong's working population show signs of depression and anxiety

A quarter of working persons in Hong Kong show levels of depression and anxiety – 2.5 times above the global average – and around 18 per cent of working persons need psychological treatment, a recent survey revealed.

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The study found that Hongkongers' stress levels were more than twice the global average for working people. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 4:00pm, 5 Oct 2015Updated: 6:22pm, 5 Oct 2015

A quarter of working persons in Hong Kong show levels of depression and anxiety – 2.5 times above the global average – and around 18 per cent of working persons need psychological treatment, a recent survey revealed.

Among the 377 workers jointly surveyed by the Occupational Safety and Health Council and the Whole Person Education Foundation, over 60 per cent said they felt highly stressed due to their jobs and over half of them have sub-optimal mental and psychological health.

The survey was conducted in June, and the council and the foundation also co-organised a pilot 'Work-Life Happiness Workshop’ from June to September this year to help boost participants’ resistance to stress.

READ MORE: Doctor warns of suicide risk as 40pc of Hong Kong pupils suffer stress as new term begins

Dr Wong Chung-kwong, chairman of the foundation and a former professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at The Chinese University, said, “Through learning and practising positive psychology, working persons can be more immune to facing stress, thus lowering the risk of suffering from psychological illnesses like depression or anxiety.”