Hong Kong students face rising mental health crisis due to academic pressure

Recent studies in Hong Kong highlight a growing mental health crisis among primary and secondary school students driven by intense academic competition. A joint study by Caritas and the Chinese University of Hong Kong involving over 5,200 primary students found that 66% feel overwhelmed by the frequency of tests and assessments, while nearly 60% experience anxiety regarding the future.

Research from the Lutheran Church Social Service indicates that academic pressure is a primary driver for school absenteeism. Approximately 37.6% of surveyed secondary students have considered skipping school or dropping out due to academic stress, with 18.1% having actually missed school at least once. The most significant stressors identified include poor academic performance (75.4%), heavy workloads (62.9%), and falling behind in studies (52.7%).

Experts suggest that students often link their self-worth directly to grades, leading to extreme fear of failure. To combat this, researchers recommend a multi-layered approach: families should provide unconditional emotional support, schools should optimize assessment methods and integrate mental health education, and the government should strengthen community support networks and resources for students facing absenteeism.