A view of residential buildings in West Kowloon District, Hong Kong on April 11, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Eighty-five percent of respondents to a survey of mental health in Hong Kong want the government to screen all the city’s residents on a regular basis.

The survey, conducted by the “A4 Alliance” formed by four Hong Kong lawmakers, showed that the mental health index of 412 respondents was only 54 points, just 2 points above the qualifying mark, which was rated as average.

Lawmaker Connie Lam So-wai, a member of the A4 Alliance, suggested that the HKSAR government should conduct mental health surveys for all Hong Kong residents every five years, expanding the pilot program of district health centers, subsidizing patients’ medicines, and funding regional "care teams" to receive training in first aid

The survey was conducted in the wake of a horrific knife attack at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill last month, when a 39-year-old man with a history of mental illness stabbed two women to death.

Respondents attributed their poor state of mental health to physical health problems, work and economic troubles, and high levels of stress. 

The survey also found that people faced difficulties in seeking help due to worries about discrimination, and a lack of understanding of existing support and mental health services. 

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During the press conference announcing the survey’s results, a resident surnamed Chan who took care of his mentally-ill wife for over 10 years shared the difficulties of caring for such patients, and the lack of support for caregivers. 

Chan said his wife suffered from long-term mental and auditory hallucinations. She also had an adverse reaction, such as muscle swelling and pain, to the injections offered by the hospital.

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He added that the social workers of some organizations stopped following up the case after just three visits. Chan and a number of friends in a similar situation reported their problems to the government, calling on officials to strengthen support for carers like him, but said they received no assistance.

Lawmaker Connie Lam So-wai, a member of the A4 Alliance, suggested that the HKSAR government should conduct mental health surveys for all Hong Kong residents every five years, expanding the pilot program of district health centers, subsidizing patients’ medicines, and funding regional "care teams" to receive training in first aid.

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Fellow member Scott Leung Man-kwong proposed expanding public-private cooperation and educating the public about mental illness to reduce discrimination. Kitson Yang Wing-kit recommended that the government should expand its talent list to recruit more psychiatrists and formulate a long-term policy to improve the mental health of Hong Kong people. 

Intern Mike Wong contributed to the story