Your Voice: Tackling mental health troubles, appreciating ethnic identity, AI and natural disasters (short letters)

Ever stumbled upon online news about a student’s suicide while scrolling through social media? It is troubling to see this become commonplace in our society.

One key factor behind rising suicide rates is meritocracy, where high grades and abilities are glorified, putting immense pressure on students. Parents often unknowingly add to this pressure.

Another issue is the prevalent culture of harsh criticism in Hong Kong, primarily online. This leads to unnecessary worries, like concerns about appearance, among teenagers. These problems hinder our aim for a healthier society.

Parents hold the key to a significant shift in societal attitudes. By refraining from pressuring children to perform at the highest level, they can foster a supportive environment.

The government and schools have introduced a host of mental health programmes. While I cannot assess their effectiveness, it is clear that these initiatives need better promotion for students to benefit.

Students, you are not just the victims but also the change-makers. Cultivating a growth mindset can help manage stress and build resilience. Taking breaks and seeking help when needed are essential. Together, we can address these challenges.

Wen Nga-yi, Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College

Many ethnic minority groups find it difficult to integrate into Hong Kong society due to language and cultural barriers. In addition to offering language support programmes, there is still much we can do to help them.

To begin with, schools play a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange. It is within the walls of these institutions that we can make a significant impact.

Encouraging ethnic minority children to attend a local school can effectively reduce language and cultural barriers. Instead of speaking English and staying with ethnic minorities in a school designed for them, these children can keep in touch with local classmates and teachers to learn Cantonese and more about Chinese culture.

Schools can also organise learning activities to help Chinese students learn about the culture of ethnic minority groups so they feel more understood.

Elevating their sense of identity in Hong Kong can open up opportunities for ethnic minorities to showcase their talents and perspectives. This increased visibility boosts their confidence in their connection to Hong Kong and highlights their contributions to the city.

Hong Kong gets first ever community care teams for ethnic minority groups

Carson Mak Ka-wai, King Ling College

Many governments provide early warning systems for earthquakes, with alerts issued to mobile phones. These systems are crucial in preventing injuries by guiding individuals away from hazardous areas. This system reduces rescue time and minimises the waiting period for victims to receive assistance.

Despite offering less than a minute of lead time before an earthquake, the widespread dissemination of alerts ensures a broad reach.

In some places, users can actively participate in earthquake data collection, fostering a communal sense of disaster preparedness.

However, the technology’s susceptibility to bugs may result in false predictions, potentially causing unwarranted public alarm. Furthermore, privacy concerns arise due to the necessity of user data for system improvement.

While not infallible, this technology significantly contributes to reducing earthquake-related damages. Continuous enhancement of this technology is essential, warranting government investment in research and development efforts.

Praveen Sathappan Narayanan, St Johannes College

To the 19th-century layperson, coding was an alien term. Yet, almost two centuries later, it has become a daily part of our lives.

Coding has opened the door to a whole new era of artificial intelligence. AI language models have become so powerful that they can write almost flawless code for simple tasks.

But as AI models continue to develop, will learning to code no longer be an advantage?

Earlier this year, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, the world’s leading chipmaker, made a huge statement about how we will soon see the death of coding.

He explained that future techies should focus on learning business domain knowledge rather than technical skills. He also added that the future generation should instead focus on other fields that AI cannot easily replace.

I started learning to code earlier this year but would like to know whether to continue. I am leaning toward more creative fields that AI cannot easily replace. But as generative AI continues to be developed and hit creativity and art, I believe it is most important for us to “Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn” to take advantage of developments around us.