YouthVolume 7 Number 2 June 2015a quarterly journal from the hongkong federation of youth groups

H O N G K O N G

Publisher :

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups www.hkfyg.org.hkwww.m21.hkYouth Hong Kong: 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong

Tel : 3755 70843755 7108Fax : 3755 7155Email : youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hkWebsite : youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk

Soy-ink is made from soybeans and is both environmentally friendly and sustainable. Soy-ink is biodegradable and non-toxic.

How Do They Feel?

YOUTH HONG KONG published quarterly by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

EDITORIAL BOARD

Rosanna Wong

Elaine Morgan (Editor)

Ada Chau (Assistant Editor)

Angela Ngai

Lakshmi Jacot

William Chung

Henry Poon

CIRCULATION (unaudited)

11,000-12,000 in Hong Kong, throughout the region and overseas

VIEWS EXPRESSED are the authors and interviewees, may come from official sources, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board or publisher

REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS without written permission from the publisher is prohibited

INTERVIEWS

Elaine Morgan

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

Ada Chau Joey Wong Connie Yau Henry Lui Sam Ip Diana Han Jonathan Ching Seraph Wu HKFYG unit staff

TRANSLATION

Ada Chau, Angela Ngai & Henry Poon

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cover image edited by Suki Mak and Sam Suen

Other photographs acknowledged as captioned, stock images or in public domain.

Other photographs acknowledged as captioned, or in public domain.

ARTWORK

Sam Suen and Rachel Lee, DG3

DESIGN, LAYOUT & PRINTING

DG3 Asia Ltd

ISSN 2071-3193

WEB youthhongkong.hkfyg.org.hk

CORRESPONDENCE to The Editor, Youth Hong Kong, 21/F, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong

TEL 3755 7084, 3755 7108

FAX 3755 7155

EMAIL youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hk

ADVERTISING enquiries to Ada Chau 3755 7108

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups was founded in 1960 and is the citys largest non-profit youth organization. Its programmes and activities at over 60 locations have annual attendance of 5 million.

CORE SERVICES Youth SPOTs, M21 Multimedia Services, Employment Services, Youth at Risk Services, Counselling Services, Parenting Services, Leadership Training, Volunteer Services, Education Services, Creativity Education and Youth Exchange, Leisure, Cultural and Sports Services, Research and Publications

WEB hkfyg.org.hk m21.hk

MEDIA PARTNERS Education Post

4-7OVERVIEW

19-21YOUTH SPEAK

22-27YOUTH WATCH

28-29INSIGHT

30-41ARTS & CULTURECITY SPACE

42-51HKFYG

Contents

Youth Ho n g K o n g

June 2015Volume 7Number 2

8-13INTERVIEWS Eric ChuiCarol Yew

14-18PERSPECTIVESPeter TsoiTerry Ng

eHealth

Cover imageA 2013 HKFYG Hong Kong 200 workshop

OVERVIEW4 Staying positive under pressureINTERVIEWS8 Teenagers and contentment Eric Chui City University12 Restoring balance Carol Yew United Centre of Emotional Health and Positive LivingPERSPECTIVES14 Peter Tsoi Psychiatrist and former HKFYG President17 Terry Ng Gratia Christian Docent Institute18 eHealth Tracking lifes ups and downsYOUTH SPEAK19 Feelings to shareYOUTH WATCH22 Wellbeing in the world of youth Jennifer LamINSIGHT 28 Anger at the tipping point Wilson Chan Youth Crime Prevention Centre ARTS & CULTURE30 Inspiration not stage fright The HK Rep32 Thangka Buddhist painting Ada Chau with Kim Chong Yin-kim34 10,000 Horses Guinness World RecordCITY SPACE36 Should you get your genome sequenced now? Diana Han 38 Goodbye fantasy, hello fame Jonathan Ching40 Creation to innovation Seraph WuHKFYG42 Hong Kong General Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs44 Summer Youth Programme46 The Last Crayon: new film from M2148 Creating Social Value: Social Innovation Centre51 China Week 2015: Diplomacy

by Jo

el C

arille

t

flick

r.com

/pho

tos/

jcar

illet/

4949

3800

9/by

Rex

Kev

in A

ggab

ao

flick

r.com

/pho

tos/

rexk

evin

agga

bao/

3048

8552

83

by W

ebbe

r H

uang

fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/xr

acz/

1342

4168

10/

by N

aom

i You

ng

flick

r.com

/pho

tos/

naom

i-you

ng/1

5295

4366

15/

by R

icky

Jian

g

flick

r.com

/pho

tos/

galg

o13/

9398

4967

/by

Jack

y W

. fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/m

edia

teja

ck/4

1469

1909

/

by R

ich

Tren

holm

flic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/fir

eand

forg

et/2

7973

5677

8/

In 1948, the World Health Organization spoke of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Nearly 70 years later, this definition has even greater meaning, as we see how rapid social, economic and technological changes have affected wellbeing and the ability to cope with daily life. This seems particularly true of todays young people, faced with constant pressures, dramatic changes, adult expectations and a competitive environment, all of which can result in imbalances to emotional and psychological health.

So, how do they feel?

This issue of Youth Hong Kong explores the facts of the situation, with reference to survey data and a range of professional perspectives. The wellbeing of Hong Kongs youth is central, not only to their attitudes and motivation but also to the citys success. To put it in jeopardy is to risk a generations happiness and contentment. To nurture it will benefit us all.

Dr Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP

Executive Director, HKFYG

June 2015

Youth Hong Kong

Editorial June 2015 |

3

What does it feel like to be young in Hong Kong today? Is life enjoyable and satisfying? If not, what are the reasons? Does the daily grind of school or work, the pressure to pass exams, build portfolios and match expectations get young people down to a serious extent? If so, what can be done about it?

A recent, well-publicized story of such overload concerned a five year-old child whose parents enrolled him for 40 kindergarten interviews and 20 summer activities. Such excess causes grave concern. Fortunately, it was an extreme case, albeit one that was indicative of the burdens that over-anxious parents place on their children. Such problems and their consequences are the main focus of this issue, along with the preventive measures that can be taken and the therapies that counsellors can offer when needed.

Pressure and failure

Local surveys (see box) indicate first and foremost that the pressure to perform well academically in order to meet high expectations at home as well as at school is the key element. The pressure, and the stress to which it leads are compounded by the citys highly competitive environment and stagnating upward social mobility, for young men in particular. Such an overload can lead to a multitude of emotional problems, some of them very serious.5

Second, the surveys bring out strongly the dissatisfaction and discontent among young people, who feel their views are not being taken into consideration by policymakers. Whether the bone of contention is housing or democracy, the root cause is the same: lack of civic engagement and empowerment.

Staying positive under pressure

Three Hong Kong Surveys

The Chinese University of Hong Kongs Youth Quality of Life Index1 of 15-24 year-olds covers psychological wellbeing, social wellbeing and overall wellbeing. As of a year ago, respondents were optimistic about the future. On average they had a positive self-image and felt fine about their relationships with family members and friends.

On the other hand, they considered the Hong Kong governments performance marginally acceptable and said they had limited influence on policy-making which failed to take care of their needs.

The Hong Kong Happiness Index has been compiled by the Centre for Public Policy Studies at Lingnan University since 2006. Findings published in 2014 with a category for the under 30s reveal a general downward trend in happiness since 2011, with lows in 2008 and 2010. Since 2012, the Centre has also compiled a Childrens Happiness Index2 of students in late primary and early secondary education. It showed a drop in happiness levels last year from 7.23 in 2013 to 6.74 on a scale of 0 to 10. Researchers suggest this may be related to the Occupy Central Movement and the political controversies arising from it.

A City University survey3 published in early 2015 and explored in detail in the next article, looks specifically at psychosocial and emotional wellbeing, rather than the political or economic sphere. It has some very interesting findings, including one that girls are more satisfied and happier than boys. The underlying cause of these feelings appears to be different levels of expectation. This view is corroborated by an earlier City University study showing that teenage boys are twice as likely to suffer from depression as girls.4 Researcher Sylvia Kwok attributed this to Chinese culture, and again to overblown expectations.

by Elaine Morgan

Youth Hong Kong

Overview| June 2015

4

Feel-good factors

When most young people are asked to describe feeling good, they speak in terms of wellbeing, happiness, optimism, self-esteem, self-confidence and fulfilment. Getting satisfaction out of life, on the other hand, is generally thought to be a more profound feeling. It includes delayed gratification and the achievement of goals.

Psychologists call these emotions subjective wellbeing and their surveys try to measure it by asking how satisfied people feel and how much positive and negative emotion they experience. Achievement of personal goals and the approbation that comes from matching parents and teachers expectations are also undeniable feel-good factors. For young people in Hong Kong however, anxious about how well they match up with their age cohort, one overriding element recurs over and over again: doing well academically.

Anxiety, money and security

Insecurity, loneliness and isolation, contribute to loss of wellbeing. Although doubts remain about whether unhappiness or the lack of wellbeing can be accurately measured, certain factors are used widely in academic research. Regardless of age, not having enough money for basic needs, feeling insecure at home and lacking a supportive social network are at the top of the list of negatives for most people of all ages.

Andrew Oswald,6 a behavioural economist who says that, recent happiness research findings have been to found to generalize across countries, also found that, in general, contentment begins to decline in adolescence. As self-awareness grows, feelings of stress and anger, typical of rebellious youth, are less likely. However, in cities like Hong Kong, where there is continued dependency on the family home and income, this change may be postponed, and anxiety about doing well enough to get a good job and become independent may be accentuated.

by H

enrik

Ber

ger

Jrg

ense

n fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/da

rkb4

daw

n/34

5779

4471

/ Youth Hong Kong

Overview June 2015 |

5

Oswald concluded that the better-educated and better-paid you are, the better you feel up to a point. This bears out the data from Hong Kong, showing how important doing well academically is to the vast majority. Nevertheless, other specialists7 argue that wealth is of declining marginal utility and satisfaction with life, over time, has little if anything to do with income. Other studies have shown that although wealth is strongly connected with life satisfaction it does not make people happy.8

All in the balance: the wider context

It is thought that genetic influences have a role to play in how satisfied one is with life: there are some people who are just more likely to be cheerful than others. It is also thought that these influences determine a set point of happiness or wellbeing, from which we vary and to which we return over time. This theory suggests that subjective wellbeing, determined also by personality traits ingrained early in life, remains relatively constant. Levels of happiness may change briefly in response to events, but almost always return to the baseline level as we adjust to change and its consequences over time.9

Nevertheless, optimism, whether it be about exam results or health, marriage or investments, tends to be more consistent in those who are young and those who are seniors.10 Perhaps the views represented by the surveys will change as the participants grow older, and perhaps the next cohort of under-25s will be troubled by different problems.

However, academics have found that being overly optimistic is not necessarily helpful, and a certain level of pessimism is not unhealthy. In fact, over-

Factors in

emotional wellbeing

Self-esteem

Self-co

nfidenc

e

Opt

imismSt

abili

ty

Secu

rity

Friends and family

Fulfillment

Self-actualization

Public

articip

ation

Pers

onali

ty

Age

+ g

ende

r

Rel

igio

n sp

iritu

ality

Cul

tura

l atti

tude

s

and

influ

ence

s

Genetic disposition

Acceptable

living standards

Achievement of personal goals

Youth Hong Kong

Overview| June 2015

6

Sources and further reading1. cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press_detail.php?id=1840

2. ln.edu.hk/news/20140217/children_happiness_index_2014

3. Chui, Wing-hong & Wong, Mathew YH. Social Indicators Research, January 2015 DOI 10.1007/s11205-015-0867-z

4. chinadailyasia.com/news/2013-05/31/content_15075225.html

5. csrp.hku.hk/sss/

6. Oswald, Andrew andrewoswald.com/

7. Easterlin, RA. time.dufe.edu.cn/wencong/easterlin/paper7.pdf

8. Kahneman, D, Deaton A. http://www.pnas.org/content/107/38/16489.full.pdf

9. psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201304/how-reset-your-happiness-set-point

10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_well-being

11. readbyqxmd.com/read/25751715/-too-optimistic-about-optimism-the-belief-that-optimism-improves-performance

12. bcf.usc.edu/~jessegra/papers/OGKG.inpress.HappinessConcepts.PSPB.pdf

13. Wu, Y. Shang shu xing ban. Taipei: Taiwan: Tong Da Books, 1991.

14. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11577847

15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia

Further reading

Aristotle. The Nichomachean Ethics. Ross, D (ed.). Oxford University Press, 1986.

Diener, Edward. Subjective wellbeing. American Psychologist, 2000. 55, 34-43.

Henriques, G. Happiness Versus Wellbeing. psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201302/happiness-versus-well-being

Kahneman, Daniel, Diener, Edward, Schwarz, Norbert (eds). Wellbeing. Russell Sage, 1999.

Seligman, M. Flourish. Simon and Schuster, 2011.

A good and auspicious life

There is wide agreement among philosophers from Christian, Aristotelian, Confucian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and humanist traditions that a sense of wellbeing depends on exercising certain personal virtues and strengths. In Chinese, the term fuk, or fudenotes happiness. It is also used to mean fortunate, lucky, smooth and free of obstacles.12 In other words, anything positive and good in life.13 Confucian philosophy emphasizes the collective welfare of the family or clan as a route to happiness, stressing integration and harmony with other people, society and nature.14 Philosophers such as Aristotle define happiness as living a good life. He uses the term eudaemonia.15 Literally, it means harmony/balance of the moving self. A good life has meaning and goals and is only attainable through the exercise of reason. Aristotle says, Happiness depends on ourselves.

confidence may make you perform worse.11 This echoes the findings of critics of the positive psychologists, also discussed later in this issue.

Where subjective psychosocial and emotional wellbeing is concerned, a quantum of realism and balance is needed. Happiness and wellbeing come from attunement between the individual and his or her sociocultural context, where expectations are as closely aligned with reality as possible. However, experience of both positive and the negative emotions, sadness and happiness, make it possible to understand both better.

Stress relief

Hong Kongs youth in a time of transition need ways to relieve stress. They also need the equilibrium which tells them that no matter how they feel today the future can be in their own hands. This message can be emphasized by parents and teachers so that when the question, How do they feel? is asked, the answers remain predominantly positive and the pressure to perform never becomes an impossible burden.

by A

ldas

Kir

vaiti

s fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/al

dask

/651

1088

31/

Youth Hong Kong

Overview June 2015 |

7

Adolescence is a time of emotional upheaval so it is not surprising to discover that there are dramatic fluctuations in teenagers feelings. However, Professor Chuis recent study on psychosocial subjective wellbeing came up with very interesting findings about gender and the marital status of parents. Academic achievement was the other key psychosocial factor. The sample group of about 1,500 10-19 year-olds came from several schools in Central & Western District and mostly from middle-class backgrounds.

Gender expectations

What difference does gender make? The findings1 showed that while higher marks made boys happier than girls, they made girls more satisfied. Why should that be, and what conclusions does it suggest? Is it because boys raised sense of self-esteem at seeing good results is only briefly felt? Professor Chui suggests that from a girls point of view, good academic performance is a portent of future success and satisfaction, rather than something to be enjoyed in a transitory moment.

In fact, according to the research, girls are both happier and more satisfied with life than boys. The cause appears to lie in varying expectations. Overblown, unrealistic expectations lead to stress, and failure brings conflict, disapproval and tension - especially at home. Hong Kong parents usually expect boys to do better than girls, and the boys feel the pressure and consequences of failure more. If they do well, thats fine. Balance is maintained. By contrast, when a girl performs well, she has the chance of making her family unexpectedly happy. Furthermore, irrespective of wellbeing in the children, according to the study, parents with daughters are happier if the girls succeed at school than parents are with sons who get good marks.

We were amazed to find that females were so much happier than males, and these findings were confirmed by results on the eight different standardised scales or measurements we used. Something very interesting is going on. It probably concerns interpersonal relationships in the family. Guys are not meant to cry, want a hug from mummy or reveal emotions. With the more demonstrative girls, stronger bonds tend to form. When the girls do well, those social bonds are reinforced.

Teenagers and contentment how gender and parents matter

We were amazed to find that females were so much happier than males.

H ow do happiness and satisfaction vary among Hong Kongs teens? Professor Eric Chui in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at City

University of Hong Kong talks about his new research and unexpected fi nding that girls are happier than boys.University of Hong Kong talks about his new research and unexpected fi nding that girls are happier than boys.

Youth Hong Kong

8

Interviews| June 2015

Changing places

I always thought males were more privileged in a patriarchal society like ours, Professor Chui continues, They always used to be considered the stronger sex, the leaders, and so they were supposed to be happier and more satisfied with life because they had greater opportunities. This is changing in Hong Kong, even at secondary school. Now, the stereotypes are changing, in more ways than one.

Maybe males are losing their edge, he suggests. The economic market means their prospects may be poorer than in the past. Females, once stereotyped as emotional, weak and low-achieving, now show they are good at school as well as at home, and that bodes well for future employment. As far as I know, this is the first research of its kind to reveal such a trend in a Chinese society. Parents used to prefer boys. Now they prefer girls. They are less trouble!

Not only in Hong Kong but elsewhere in the developed world, there is an upward trend in female achievement and the studys findings reflect this trend. Professor Chui agrees that interpersonal and communication skills are very important today, skills at which females excel more often than boys.

One parent or two

Another surprise finding concerned teenagers with divorced or separated parents. They develop a stronger sense of purpose and higher self-esteem. Perhaps this is because their upbringing forces them to be independent relatively early in life.2 Since both purposefulness and self-esteem contribute to a sense of wellbeing they may mitigate the adverse effects of being less happy or satisfied with life as a result of a parental breakup.

On the other hand, social relationships, especially with the family, are more important to girls than boys, according to Professor Chuis research, although the role of the family is crucial in the subjective wellbeing of all adolescents. If girls parents are married, the girls are both happier and more satisfied with life in general, whereas the marital status of parents matters much less where boys wellbeing is concerned. The same applies to the number of close friends: they make girls happier than they do boys, although they dont necessarily make them feel any more satisfied with life.

Teenagers with divorced or separated parents develop a stronger sense of purpose and higher self-esteem.

Youth Hong Kong

Interviews June 2015 |

9

by R

ex P

e fl

ickr

.com

/pho

tos/

gold

endr

agon

613/

2531

9884

2/

Pressure, results and vanity

The significance of academic achievement reflects Hong Kongs cultural climate, says Professor Chui. My first-year students think their parents and grandparents were happier than they are in their teens. Despite greater affluence, todays students feel their prospects are not as good as those of their forebears. They say that they dont like going to tutorial classes and piano lessons. Instead, they want freedom and space to breathe. Parents would probably consider this to be ignoring good opportunities.

The pressure on students to work hard and pass examinations permeates their lives. It dictates relationships at home in the present and chances of security and success in the future. It is also a major factor in family harmony which in turn affects quality of life. While all

One wants ones children to do well. It reflects on oneself. It also reveals parental vanity.

parents want their children to do well, a so-called tiger mother style of parenting is the main source of pressure. When children dont match up to expectations either their own or their parents what do they do? Try harder.

Trying to do well for the sake of the family can upset a teenagers sense of wellbeing and delicate equilibrium, especially if the effort turns out to be futile. If expectations were too high in the first place it can cause serious distress. Yet adolescents, for whom family ties are particularly important, feel they must try because if they have indeed disappointed their parents, there will be inevitable negative consequences.

I would say that Hong Kong education places too much emphasis on academic achievement. I have an eight year-old and however hard I try I cannot avoid this social climate. One wants ones children to do well. It reflects on oneself. It also reveals parental vanity. The change in todays family structure contributes to this. Most families have only one child. This child represents a great investment and if they dont do well at school, they hear the underlying message that there is no hope for them.

Youth Hong Kong

10

Interviews| June 2015

by R

ex P

e fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/go

lden

drag

on61

3/25

0122

102/

16

Scales and questionnaires used in the study

Eight standardized measurement scales were used by Professor Chui and a strong correlation was found confirming the above findings on all of the scales.

Chinese Family Assessment: Shek (2002) General Health Questionnaire: Goldberg & Williams (1970) Hopelessness Scale: Shek (1993) [Chinese version]

based on Beck et al (1974)

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: [Chinese version for Hong Kong] Hills & Argyle (2002)

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule: Watson et al (1988) Purpose in Life Questionnaire: Crumbaugh (1968) Satisfaction with Life: Diener et al (1985) Self-Esteem: Rosenberg (1965)

Sources1. Chui, Wing-hong & Wong, Mathew YH. "Gender differences in happiness and life

satisfaction among adolescents in Hong Kong: relationships and self-concept." In Social Indicators Research, January 2015 DOI 10.1007/s11205-015-0867-z

2. Chui, Wing-hong & Wong, Mathew YH. "Association between parents. Marital status and the development of purpose, hope and self-esteem in adolescents" in Hong Kong. (Forthcoming in Journal of Family Issues.)

3. Chui, Wing-hong & Wong, Mathew YH. "Gender, academic achievement, and family functioning among adolescents" in Hong Kong: the role of parental expectations. (Unpublished. at time of writing)

Further Reading

Agliata,AK&Renk,K.Collegestudentsaffectivedistress.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 396-411. 2009.

Chua,A. Battle hymn of the tiger mother. New York: Penguin, 2011.

Costigan,CL,Hua,JM&Su,TF.Livinguptoexpectations.Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 25, 223-245. 2010.

Guo,K.IdealsandrealitiesinChineseimmigrantparenting:Tigermother versus others. Journal of Family Studies, 19(1), 4452. 2013.

Ho,DYF,&Kang,TK.Intergenerationalcomparisonsofchild-rearingattitudesand practices in Hong Kong. Developmental Psychology, 20, 10041006. 1984.

Kwan,YK.Lifesatisfactionandself-assessedhealthamongadolescentsin Hong Kong. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 383393. 2010.

Li,AKF.Parentalattitudes,testanxiety,andachievementmotivation:a Hong Kong study. Journal of Social Psychology, 93, 311. 1970.

Li,J&Wang,Q.PerceptionsofachievementandachievingpeersinU.S.and Chinese Kindergartens. Social Development, 13(3), 413435. 2004.

Lopez,N.Hopeful girls, troubled boys. New York: Routledge, 2003.

Ng,Fetal.EuropeanAmericanandChineseparentsresponsestochildrenssuccess and failure. Developmental Psychology, 43(5), 12391255. 2007.

Shek,DTL.TheChinesepurpose-in-lifetestandpsychologicalwellbeing in Chinese college students. International Forum for Logotherapy, 16(1), 35-42. 1993.

Shek,DTL.MeasurementofpessimisminChineseadolescents.TheChineseHopelessness Scale. Social Behaviour and Personality, 21(2), 107-120. 1993.

Sun,RCF&Shek,DTL.Lifesatisfaction,positiveyouthdevelopment and problem behavior among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Social Indicators Research, 95 (3), 455-474. 2010.

Tran,QDetal.Ethnicandgenderdifferencesinparentalexpectationsandlife stress. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 13, 515526. 1996.

More research to follow

The importance of precise age during adolescence is also revealing. Happiness and satisfaction dwindled markedly in the teenagers studied after the age of 16, the point at which they prepare for the public Diploma of Secondary Education examinations. This is when pressure becomes increasingly intense, both at school and, often at home, again underlining the significance of academic achievement for these youngsters. Even external examiners who come from Britain cannot understand why there is so much pressure on students here. To change this system needs strong leadership.

This research is just a beginning, says Professor Chui, as he talks about his next, territory-wide survey. My first study was not representative of older suburbs or new towns. He stresses that quantitative, qualitative and longitudinal studies are needed in future. As with all research, it cant give all the answers. For now, we are making conjectures based on initial findings.

Youth Hong Kong

Interviews June 2015 |

11

C arol Yew, Hong Kong Psychological Society Registered Clinical Psychologist and Expressive Arts Therapist, answers

questions about her work with depressed and anxious youth. She suggests ways to restore their balance.

In your experience, which emotional disorders and psychological problems are common among Hong Kong youth?

Depression and anxiety, especially social anxiety, and performance or exam anxiety are the more common kinds among my young clients. They often lead to deterioration in academic performance, less interaction with classmates, and even truancy.

What are the underlying causes?

They can be conceptualized as the 3 Ps. The first P stands for predisposing factors. These include a family history of mental illness, parental style of upbringing, negative early childhood experiences, and a premorbid personality.1

The second P stands for precipitating factors. These include events which trigger the onset of emotional disorders. They are often called stressors and can be major life-changing events such as changes in family dynamics and divorce. Extreme stress in the public exams, a sudden drop in school grades, being bullied at school, or unfortunate, traumatic events are other examples.

The third P stands for perpetuating factors which maintain and sustain mood problems. Some examples are maladaptive coping strategies such as smoking and drinking, negative attitude and lack of social or familial support.

In what ways do you help these young people?

One of my patients skipped classes for almost a year because of extreme anxiety. Treatment for students like this usually begins with cognitive-behavioral therapy2 then goes on to positive psychological interventions in order to try to prevent a relapse. Therapies like these help you to identify and own your strengths, to appreciate others, be grateful for what you have, and be more optimistic. One strategy is to write a gratitude journal every night, describing things you are grateful for and why, focusing on the good parts of life and appreciating them more. Over time, those who feel more grateful generally become happier and more positive.

by R

ache

l Lee

Restoring balance

Notes 1. A premorbid personality is one that is characterized by early signs or symptoms of a mental disorder.2. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.

Youth Hong Kong

12

Interviews| June 2015

Self-helpThe United Centre of Emotional Health and Positive Living (UCEP), where Ms Yew is the Clinical Director of the Psychological Service, publishes books on emotional health education and positive psychology. For young people whose emotional health has been badly affected by social or exam anxiety, Ms Yew recommends, a self-help book on anxiety, , a basic text on positive psychology, and 360, easy and light-hearted reading with short articles on positive psychology.

With thanks to both Ms Yew and Dr Anthony Tong, Clinical Psychologist at UCEP.

More information www.ucep.org.hk / www.ucn.org.hk

Positive psychology focuses on human wellbeing. Its roots are in humanistic psychology. It uses a quantitative approach and is intended to complement and extend conventional psychology. There is division among psychologists as to its application. Advocates believe that psychology has been too focused on mental illness and insufficiently focused on mental health. Critics say that interpretations of positive psychology overemphasize the power of the positive and do not take individual difference sufficiently into account. A counter argument, based on the theory of defensive pessimism, while not denying that optimism and positive mood can help some people, indicates that being optimistic may not benefit everyone equally. The proponents of positive psychology believe that it benefits the majority and its value, while still debated, has been made evident by scholars who have conducted rigorous and creative work on the origins of happiness and related feelings.

Further reading

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology

criticalscience.com/positive-psychology-merits-shortcomings.html

apa.org/monitor/2011/04/positive-psychology.aspx

apa.org/monitor/2011/04/positive-psychology.aspx

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.10094/abstract

psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200805/what-is-positive-psychology-and-what-is-it-not

psychologytoday.com/blog/the-skeptical-psychologist/200906/is-positive-psychology-everyone-new-research-raises-doubts?

Can schools and the community help?

We strongly support incorporating positive psychology, positive virtues and character strengths into the school curriculum. We believe that prevention is better than cure and positive psychology helps in this respect. In fact, research has shown that certain strengths correlate with better grades, so it is very worthwhile to teach and cultivate them from an achievement point of view. The community at large can help in the same way, by embracing positive psychological concepts such as altruism and hope.

Positive psychology

by S

tefa

no C

orso

fli

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/pe

nsie

ro/4

5204

4539

6/

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCBT

Today, the concept of health has evolved to include physical, mental, social and spiritual health, namely holistic wellbeing. If we believe that happiness is more than the absence of depression, and health is more than the absence of disease, then we should do more to promote both individual and community positive psychology.

The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true.

J Robert Oppenheimer

Youth Hong Kong

Interviews June 2015 |

13

Who are the hidden youth, known in Hong Kong as teenage hermits or , in Japan as hikikomori and in Britain as NEETs (not in employment, education or training)? These reclusive adolescents, who are neither at school nor at work, spend their time at home, mostly playing video games. Some stay there for months, even for years. The phenomenon may start with dropping out of school or failure to get a job but then, gradually, the young person become increasingly withdrawn from the world.

Underlying causes

What causes their problems? Although many of them are difficult to categorize, some fit the diagnostic criteria of psychiatric disorders, the most common of which are depression and generalized anxiety disorder. These hidden youth may also give the impression of being addicted because they are likely to kill time with their computers.

S evere social withdrawal by young people is a subject of real concern in Hong Kong. Dr Peter Tsoi, a psychiatrist who works

with young people, is a former President of HKFYG. He tells Youth Hong Kong that he believes the roots of the problem lie in the stressful education system.

When the world gets you down

Although it is possible that some of them might actually be addicted to the internet before they become socially withdrawn, I would say sitting in front of the computer all day is predominantly an effect of social withdrawal rather than a cause.

Those who have no specific mental disorder just use social withdrawal as a way to maintain their balance. Theories on as the underlying causes of the hikikomori phenomenon in Japan include conformity and collectivism, overprotective parenting and particularities of the educational system. Many of these also apply in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, even the very young have to start learning how to compete and succeed. In middle class families especially, parents have high expectations and tend to put too much pressure on their children to achieve. They overprotect and over-provide at the same time.

Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives| June 2015

14

Reaction and transformation

Youth experiencing overwhelming stress react according to their different potential, talents, personality and social background. Most find a way to balance the various demands and conflicts. They learn how to navigate between the values of parents and their expectations while discovering who they are and what they can realistically do. Achieving this kind of balance means resolving an identity crisis. This is a prerequisite for successful transformation into adulthood and opens up the route to happiness, contentment and wellbeing through self-actualization.

Those who fail to find such balance as they grow up and become adults may take different paths. The ones who have an in-born tendency to develop psychiatric disorders become mentally ill. Others who have personality defects develop behavioural problems or delinquency. Some react by simply withdrawing from the world, as in the hikikomori.

This is only possible if a certain set of conditions prevails. These include parental tolerance of the social withdrawal, by at least one parent. In the end, the parent cannot accept the failure of their child and tries to hide it. Another necessary condition is sufficient resources in the family to support a socially withdrawn youth. Less accepting and less affluent families would not permit hikikomori to develop. In such cases, the mounting stress would probably create another problem or mental illness.

How to help them

Cases of hikikomori seldom appear in psychiatric clinics as both the young people concerned and their parents may not think there is a mental problem. In fact, a socially withdrawn youth will usually resist any suggestion of seeing a psychiatrist. When I encounter this kind of case, regardless of whether the parents or the young person seeks a consultation, it is important to distinguish those with mental illness who need psychiatric treatment from those who have only a psychological problem. I would refer those in the latter group to a psychologist colleague.

Successful treatment of an underlying psychiatric illness, such as anxiety or depression, usually ameliorates social withdrawal. For example, I have encountered several cases of university students who suddenly became withdrawn and disappeared from the campus for months. Later, they were found to be suffering from depression and after successful treatment they resumed their studies.

Treatment includes individual psychotherapy and family therapy. The former usually adopts a cognitive-behavioural approach. In family therapy, there are different techniques according to different schools of thought and training. There was a case report some years ago by a Japanese

by

L'h

flic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/lo

risse

ttan

ni/1

5302

3076

24/

Society should not label them as abnormal. Indeed, in some ways, it is society that is abnormal and that is why some young people nowadays choose to shut themselves away from it.

Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives June 2015 |

15

It is obvious that the education system needs to be reviewed with the aim of promoting health, wellbeing and wellness among Hong Kong youth instead of damaging it. My opinion is that society should not put all the blame on the hidden youth for their problem by labelling them as abnormal. Indeed, in some ways, it is society that is abnormal and that is why some young people nowadays choose to shut themselves away from it.

Mental illness in Hong Kong youthIn Hong Kong, a survey of 1,120 young people aged under 25 found that 32.5% of them showed symptoms of depression, with the youngest aged only 12. Recent statistics confirm that the trend for 10-14 year-old males and 20-24 year-old females having worsening mental health, and an annual study put the index of mental health among 15-24 year-olds at 53 this year on a scale of 0-100, down from 64 and 63 in the past two years. Researchers have found that the phenomenon of socially withdrawn youth is as common in Hong Kong as in Japan. Prevalence rates among a sample group of 1,010 12-29 year-olds was 1.9% and 2.5% for more than six months and less than six months respectively.

Helplines for youth mental health http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/crisis-management/helpline-community-resources/index.html

Sourcesinfo.gov.hk/gia/general/201105/18/P201105180167.htm

statistics.gov.hk/pub/B11303032014AN14B0100.pdf

scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1616447/decline-mental-health-hong-kong-youth-distressing-says-expert

Wong, PW et al. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2014 July 24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063752

therapist who successfully treated a hikikomori youth with solution-focus family therapy.

Success of treatment hinges on the resolution of underlying psychological conflicts and family psychopathology. If the problem is developmental, being able to overcome obstacles in the transformation to adult life and integration into society mean recovery and good prognosis.

System at fault

The hikikomori phenomenon illustrates the pitfalls of the current education system in many countries, especially in Asia and Hong Kong. Cutting oneself off totally from the outside world can be seen as a response to the tremendous stress of having to compete from a very early age. But they are not the only ones who suffer from this pressure-cooker educational environment. Perhaps they are actually luckier than those who become mentally ill as a result of too much study pressure.

by P

aran

oid

Mon

k fl i

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/ed

dus/

1003

6925

0/

Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives| June 2015

16

I dont pretend I can solve problems through positive thinking. People like David have to help themselves.

Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives June 2015 |

17

Kids from all sorts of schools come to me: local government schools, DSS schools, international schools. Their intelligence varies like their personalities. But in one way they are all the same: unhappy about school. I show them how to look for joy in their bogged-down education by teaching them skills to achieve at least the minimum.

Ill give you an example. Lets call him David, a Secondary 6 student referred by an educational psychologist. He was completely silent in class. Nobody could get any response. It was almost as bad at home. He seemed indifferent to everybody and everything.

When he joined my group he was just the same. So I talked to him about comics. No serious subjects or school work, just light-hearted nonsense. Gradually he relaxed and responded. There was no threat. He accepted me and the others and started talking.

He told us that he didnt know when, but he had forgotten how to smile.

Eventually, he admitted his worst fears. He didnt think he could match his familys expectations. He came from an ordinary middle- class background and was convinced that his family would waste all their money on him.

I tried to explain this to his parents, who were open-minded, well-educated and ready to lower their expectations. They told me they hadnt expected top marks anyway. They didnt understand their son, the size of the problem or the cause of his emotional disturbance. I told them not to think about academic performance but to concentrate on building Davids self-confidence and skills of self-expression.

The public DSE exams were looming. Since the results are the benchmark for university and jobs, they cannot be avoided. We started planning and setting goals. The exams were a tough test and David had a crisis in the middle of them. He came to see me, frustrated and pessimistic about his performance, convinced that he would fail. I reminded him of his abilities and eventually he left with more confidence.

In fact, David had very good results and is going on to do a higher diploma in tourism this year. I dont know if his problems have gone away. One must be realistic. I dont pretend I can solve problems through positive thinking. People like David have to help themselves. When I talked to his parents again they said communications had improved and they are now cautiously optimistic.

When I last saw him, I asked David why he had chosen to study tourism, which demands good communication skills. He answered with a thoughtful, casual smile.

He had remembered.

D r Terry Ng, of Gratia Christian Docent Institute, is a professional counselling tutor for students with special needs. He writes here about training them to cope with the

demands of life at school and the confusion and unhappiness they cause.

Forgotten smile

byD

anie

l Fos

ter

http

s://w

ww

.fl ic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/da

niel

fost

er/3

3978

6385

2/

eHealthtracking lifes ups and downs

M any websites, apps, and devices exist to help keep track of psychological health. Information collected can also help doctors.

We look at some of these online services and how well they work.

AustraliaE-hub is an initiative of the National Institute for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University. Its developers and researchers are internationally recognized experts in the field of mental health and web service delivery, some of whom have personally experienced depression. E-hub develops and evaluates websites that deliver psycho-education and psychological interventions for common mental health problems, as well as clinical and consumer networking. It has developed five innovative online self-help services that can be accessed anonymously, free of charge, 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the world. MOODgym for learning cognitive behaviour therapy skills is one example. It is designed to help prevent depression and provide coping strategies.facebook.com/ehub.selfhelp/info?tab=page_info

CanadaWalkAlong is a mental health companion website, a community where young Canadians can explore their mental health amongst peers. The portal is a Canadian-based mental health resource that also provides information and links to existing mental healthcare resources for friends and family members. The WalkAlong team is a group of researchers and practitioners located at the University of British Columbia. Examples of services are an online mental health assessment and a Life Chart that keeps track of users wellbeing.walkalong.ca/

For those with psychological problems, common obstacles to getting better, have, in the past, included lack of accurate and complete information, costs of treatment, effects of stigma, and beliefs such as nobody understands me or this is just the way I am. The internet can be used to remove some of these hurdles.

Here are some examples of recent developments.

UKNHS Choices, while stressing that self-help cannot usually provide all the answers, has links to pages such as a cognitive-behaviour therapy-based computer self-help course called Beating the Blues for the treatment of depression and a similar course called FearFighter for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

These are available around the clock and are easily accessible via a computer, tablet or smartphone. One service for the under 20s is Kooth, which offers emotional and mental health support for children and young people. Those who sign up can choose an avatar, have a drop-in chat with a counsellor or therapist, book a one-to-one session or contact other young people anonymously on the forums. Kooth is free in certain areas of the UK.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/self-help-therapies.aspx

continued on page 50

Youth Hong Kong

Perspectives| June 2015

18

Feelings to shareM any of the same problems, doubts and worries plague youth now as ever, as well as the same incomprehension of parents. Life is better for those

with fewer illusions. Eight youngsters refl ect on how they feel.

Pressured but coping

I'm a post 80s girl and like most of my friends I feel OK. We know were a lot better off than any generation before us. But it seems that much unhappiness stems from the unrealistic pressures that parents place on us. We are expected to get a job right out of university and start earning significant income straight away. We are also raised thinking we are special and so we think that we are better than everyone else which is obviously not true. I do wish parents would stop telling us these things. They spoil us too. Think of that bratty child, the one who didn't get their Christmas present handed to them on a plate but was told they would have to do some volunteer work or something like that first. It makes him impossible to live with. Yes, hes unhappy. Well, some of us are like that. One thing Ive learnt is that if you want to be happy, lower your expectations.

Certainly it seems that parents push their children hard to achieve and many adults acknowledge the fact. But not all young people force themselves to try harder just in order to please and some, like this young lady, adopt a hard-edged attitude early on in life.

Wistful dreamer

I dont think of myself as being particularly happy or unhappy, but to be honest, to be really happy would mean having my own set of drums in my own studio doing what I really want to do supported by people I care about. But I know that my parents would never let me. As soon as I discovered playing the drums, they told me to just get through the public exams and dont think too much! Well, an older school friend taught me the basic drumming techniques and I practised with her every day after class but it all stopped when she left school and my exam results werent very good anyway. That was ten years ago. I feel that because I am not fulfilled in one area of my life, other areas are affected. I keep thinking that maybe, if Id had my familys support, maybe I could have been a professional drummer by now.

In Hong Kong, most parents would prefer their offspring to do something conventional like accounting or medicine but making the right decision for a career path that will set a course for life is a huge step, and one that some take too soon.

by B

ertr

am N

g fl i

ckr.c

om/p

hoto

s/be

rt_n

g/55

1475

3245

/

by w

silve

r ht

tps:/

/fl ic

.kr/

p/at

3SV

U

eHealthtracking lifes ups and downs

Youth Hong Kong

Youth speak June 2015 |

19

Anxious but determined Unhappy and sensitive

I always feel worried when faced with the unfamiliar. It happens all the time now that I am a nursing student and my patients keep changing. I lack confidence in clinical skills and in making decisions and I dont know how to cope sometimes. Recently, all these negative thoughts affected the way I did an exam. There were so many unknowns and uncertainties. But beyond all that, I try to remind myself that the reason I am doing nursing is because I want to help people. Helping people makes me feel better. I just need to learn how to balance this with self-doubt.

Tackling a difficult subject for a vocational degree is a hurdle that Hong Kongs youth seem often willing to take on, sometimes for heartfelt reasons, but not for the sake of happiness. Helping people, on the other hand, though demanding, can be its own reward and lead to great satisfaction.

I dont have a happy family life and Ive never had any really close friends. My grandmother hates us all and I have to force myself just to smile at her. It disgusts me. Once, when I was a child, she threw me and my mother out of the house. The most pathetic thing was that my father totally supported her. She was his mother and he never said a thing to help. After that, my mother has always expected me to do what she says. Its actually because she needs to feel in control. In fact, she has no control except over me, but this means I cant control my own life. I dont really want to share my feeling with others. I just want to forget all those bad memories.

It is very sad when a home life has badly affected self-confidence and led to such tangles as this young person writes about. When others seem to be having fun with their friends or family, being the odd one out is upsetting. However, research has shown that people with children are not necessarily happy about it and parents certainly can contribute to their childrens unhappiness by being unhappy themselves.

by a

aron

gils

on fl

ickr

.com

/pho

tos/

aaro

ngils

on/8

6032

5122

6/

By To

mm

y W

ong

fl ick

r.com

/pho

tos/

grac

ewon

g/31

2922

513/

Youth Hong Kong

20

Youth speak| June 2015

by Jo

e H

astin

gs fl

ickr

.com

/pho

tos/

joeh

astin

gs/3

4887

4251

/

Realist at heart

What do I feel pessimistic about? Housing. Even with a great job, how can you ever buy your own home in Hong Kong? The government could do something about housing but they are just unwilling. Not only that, but I think it is very rare to see people in Hong Kong really happy, doing what they want to do. I think they compensate by buying the latest thing, an iPhone for example. They will queue for days, but really, it won't make life any better.

This young person wrote to us on a brilliant spring day. He also said he felt joyful to see the clear skies. On the other hand, he has grave doubts about his prospects. Respondents to surveys in other sections of the magazine have similar misgivings, and they believe their views are heard by nobody with any power or influence.

A bit out of the ordinary Conquering depression

I am doing quite well at school and life has felt good since I started going out with my new boyfriend. But my parents dont seem very happy and they dont like him much. I think me and my brother cause problems for them, although they like giving us treats and taking us on holidays in new countries. Thats fun for us but they seem to disagree a lot. The families who seem happiest are always doing the same things together. They go to the same restaurants and watch movies together. I dont think we are like that. Maybe being different can make you discontented. For me, my friends are the most important thing and I feel lucky when we are together. But I also love being on my own.

Feeling different from the crowd can work both ways, making people feel satisfied because of the freedom and independence it brings but uneasy and isolated if they are not well-liked. To achieve a balance between the two is rare in a young person.

I used to feel negative about everything. I felt totally redundant at home and had no confidence at school. I still think my mother wished shed never had me and really only loves my sister. It helped when the social worker sent me to a counsellor. Thats when I realized I love making films. When I make a good one its so satisfying. Even if its not very good it doesnt really matter. The main thing is never to spend a whole day at home. Always go out, get some fresh air, have a coffee with a friend. Then the depression stays away. Ive even done some volunteer work and life is looking up although my relationship with mum is still terrible. If I distract myself from the sadness by doing things I love, then I can get by.

Focusing on the positive side of life is a good coping strategy. Smile, they say, it will make you feel better. For some, perhaps, in the end, being realistic is what matters most.

by H

eath

er R

uiz

fl ick

r.com

/pho

tos/

3942

4835

@N

03/3

6236

4698

3/

by d

igita

l cat

fl ic

kr.c

om/p

hoto

s/14

6460

75@

N03

/433

8288

447/

Youth Hong Kong

Youth speak June 2015 |

21

Pursuing goals

Some people believe they can buy happiness, but for me, happiness comes with a sense of achievement. It could be simple things, like scoring a try in rugby or finishing a long essay. These small things give me a positive feeling and I think that kind of happiness cannot be measured by any universal standard or scale. It is all about what you feel inside. Having said that, happiness is a short-term feeling for me. I have always loved pursuing goals but once I achieve them the happiness fades. I remember how happy I was when I found out that I had a place at university. That feeling will never come again. It was unique.

The experience, if not the self-knowledge of this 21 year-old student, is representative of his gender and age group, [see the article on pages 8-11]. Fleeting happiness comes and goes. Contentment and satisfaction are altogether different.

by M

ark

John

son

fl ick

r.com

/pho

tos/

7468

143@

N04

/233

3932

785/

T he media often dwell on the dark side of being young, with stories of stress and suicide, but are todays youngsters really that miserable? In this round-up, Jennifer Lam takes a look around the region and at Britain,

beginning with Hong Kong and ending with Bhutan.

Wellbeing

The Global Youth Wellbeing Index1 (GYWI), the primary source for this article, ranks youth aged 10-24 in 30 countries. Its approach, informed by the Human Development Index,2 uses 40 quality of life indicators, including subjective outlook and satisfaction as well as objective and behavioural factors across six interconnected aspects (domains): citizen participation; education; economic opportunity; health; information and communication technology (ICT); safety and security.

minus Scores on Lingnan Universitys Happiness Index4 fell from 7.23 in 2013 to 6.74 in 2014. The index was compiled in September-November at the time of the Occupy Central protests. The decline was sharpest in 15-17 year-olds, for whom the index slipped from 6.58 to 5.83 on a 1-10 scale, a drop of 11.4% in a year.

City Universitys 2015 Happiness Index5 recorded its lowest findings, with a top score of 6.98 compared to 7.32 ten years ago. A Hong Kong Ideas Centre study,6 conducted from January-March, noted that social dissatisfaction was highest among 20-24 year-olds, because of social conditions, including housing and mainland visitors.

in the world of youth

Hong Kong not very happy

plus Hong Kong youth were happier in 2014 than 2013 according to the latest Chinese University of Hong Kong Quality of Life Index,3 which uses similar domains to GYWI. There were reports of overall improvement in psychological wellbeing, society, education, living environment, youth crime rate, mental health, drug abuse, economic conditions and environmental quality. There were fewer reports of high pressure from school and extracurricular activities. Good relationships with family and friends improved wellbeing the most. However, youth were already feeling less happy with government performance, public expenditure on education, and opportunities for development.

Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch| June 2015

22

The incidence of suicide among Hong Kong youth is very high. In 2012 it was 8.3 for every 100,000 youths.7 According to the University of Hong Kongs Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, suicide is the leading cause of death for those the same as aged 15-24, the same as the US.8 A 2012 Baptist Oi Kwan survey found that of the 2,500 high school pupils surveyed, 44% had symptoms of depression, with 6% showing serious symptoms.9

Australia top score, but some way to go

plus GYWI rates Australia 1st overall for youth wellbeing. Among other Asia-Pacific countries it ranks highest for citizen participation. It also comes top in the education domain, borne out by a 2013 study10 that found 75% of teenagers and 32% of young adults were in full-time education. The proportion of young people who reported being very satisfied with life has increased over the past decade and was higher among teenagers than young adults.

minus According to the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth,11 30% of young people aged 15-24 are overweight or obese, and 18% had used illicit drugs. The rate of youth suicide is falling, but in 2013, 108 males aged 15-19 and 148 males aged 20-24 committed suicide. In the same year, 40 females aged 15-19, and 52 females aged 20 to 24 killed themselves.12 Its estimated that 6-7% of young people aged 16-24 experience depression.13

India pleased to have a voice

plus India rates 26th overall in the GYWI, lowest in the Asia-Pacific region, but it comes 3rd for citizen participation. In general, Indian youth are realistic about their challenges. Both their perceived stress levels and levels of self-harm are below average. In 2006, a study of 16-34 year-olds in 14 countries found Indian young people had the greatest perceived sense of wellbeing, but a 2013 youth survey14 found that 41.5% of the surveyed youth said the pursuit of happiness still topped their wish list.15

minus A 2013 Lancet study found India had the highest suicide rate in the world.16 One-third of suicides are young people aged 1529.17 36% of Indians are likely to suffer a major depressive episode in their lifetime, with the average age of the depressed being 31.18

Japan positive but still problems

plus GYWI rates Japan 7th overall, confirmed by a 2012 survey conducted by the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, in which 94% of junior high school students said they were happy.19 Young people generally have a positive outlook and a government-run survey20 reports levels of youth life satisfaction over 78% by 2014 - the highest since 1967 and higher than during Japans booming economy of the 1980s.

minus The country comes 23rd in citizen participation due to the absence of a youth policy and relatively low volunteer rates. It is home to the reclusive hikikomori and a survey of 6-12 year-olds reports high stress levels.21 Suicide is the leading cause of death among Japanese men aged 20-44.22

Youth Hong Kong June 2015 |

23

Youth watch

Philippinessafety and security worries

plus GYWI rates the Philippines 22nd overall among the 30 countries surveyed, and 8th in the nine countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Young Filipinos are smoking slightly less, drinking less alcohol and drug use has plummeted, according to the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study25, which surveyed just over 19,000 respondents aged 15-24 in 2013 when only 4% of young Filipinos admitting to taking drugs, compared to almost 11% in 2002.

minus With the exception of the education domain, lower youth satisfaction drives down the Philippines scores. Filipino youth express their greatest dissatisfaction with safety and security. Suicide rates, while lower than in many other countries, have gone up in the last 21 years, with the majority of cases being young people aged 24 or less.26

Mainland Chinamostly optimistic

plus GYWI ranks mainland China 14th overall and 10th for economic opportunity. Of the nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region surveyed, Chinese youth report the greatest optimism and satisfaction in economic opportunity, and safety and security. A 2013 Ipsos Asia-Pacific survey23 found 27% of 18-29 year-olds were very happy and 60% rather happy.

Chinas suicide rates have declined to be among the lowest rates in the world, according to a 2014 report from the University of Hong Kong. The most dramatic shift has been for rural women under 35, whose suicide rate appears to have dropped by as much as 90%.24 Moving to the cities to work has liberated many rural young women from parental pressures, arranged marriages and poverty.

minus China ranks 22nd in the GYWI education domain and 28th for citizen participation. Reasons given are its lack of youth policy, lower levels of youth volunteering, and more pessimistic outlook on government. It is below average for prioritization of healthy living. Of the nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China ranks 6th overall, scoring only above Indonesia, the Philippines, and India, according to GYWI.

Wellbeing Rankings

Dark green: bestTan: moderateRed: worst

Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch| June 2015

24

Thailandchallenges in security

plus GYWI rates Thailand 10th for youth wellbeing overall and 6th for providing youth with economic opportunities. Across all the six domains studied, youth are generally optimistic about their circumstances and future prospects. The Thai Government has established Children and Youth Councils at national, provincial and district levels.30

minus Thai youth experience their greatest challenges in safety and security. Thailands Mental Health Department says suicide is the No 3 cause of death in Thai teenagers31 with 852 teen suicides from 2007 to 2011. In 2011, the suicide rate among Thais aged 15-19 was at 3.43 per 100,000. Male teens are three times more likely to kill themselves than female teens, who are three times more likely to injure themselves than males.35

South Koreatechnology scores, but youth not happy

plus GYWI rates South Korea 3rd overall and top in the ICT domain. It also ranks top in the Asia-Pacific region, and does well in terms of youth wellbeing. In each domain, excluding citizen participation, it is in the top ten.

minus However, not everyone is happy in South Korea. Youth happiness stands at 74 in an annual index27 with a median of 100. Only two-thirds of Korean youth said they were satisfied with life, much less than the OECD average of 85.8%. A 2014 poll by the Korea Health Promotion Foundation found that just over half of South Korean teenagers had had suicidal thoughts,28 while nearly one in three said they had felt very depressed. The suicide rate for people aged 15-24 in South Korea was 13 deaths per 100,000 people.29

Map source Global Youth Wellbeing Index 2014

Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch

25

wor

Vietnamoptimistic about prospects

plus GYWI rates Vietnam 11th for youth wellbeing, and 5th among the nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam achieves particularly strong results in the economic opportunity and health domains. Across the domains, youth are generally optimistic about their circumstances and future prospects. A 2012 survey found young people were confident that life would be much better than it had been for previous generations, and 73% considered happiness and family values more important than money.36

minus Several surveys in 2014 found high parental expectations were fuelling increased anxiety and depression among school students, with 26% of just over 1,700 students suffering from mental problems.37 In 2010 a government survey found more than 4% of 14-25 year-olds had suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, double the 2006 figure. Females are twice as likely to attempt suicide than males. More than 7% of the surveys 10,000 participants said their self-harm was caused by stress.38

UKdissatisfi ed about participation and jobs

plus GYWI rates the UK as the 4th best country overall for young adults and 2nd among the European countries. The UK achieves strong results in the ICT, education and health domains. A 2013 Unicef survey32 found that wellbeing of British children had risen over the past decade, from the bottom to 16th out of 29 developed countries.

minus Young people are not happy with levels of citizen participation, economic growth or opportunities. A YouGov poll33 reported that 40% of jobless young people had experienced symptoms of mental illness, including suicidal thoughts or feelings of self-loathing and panic attacks, due to unemployment. Of those polled, 9% said they did not have anything to live for. According to official figures, 10% of British children aged 5-16 have a recognizable mental disorder, with 4% suffering from an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.34 In 2012 male suicide was the single biggest killer of 20-49 year-old males.35

Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch| June 2015

26

How many 10-24 year-olds in the overall population?

56%

Bhutan Philippines India Vietnam Thailand Australia South Korea

UK Japan HongKong

Mainland China

31% 28% 26% 22% 22% 20% 19% 18% 14% 12.6%

wor

Youth Hong Kong

Youth watch June 2015 |

27

Bhutannot everyones happy

Bhutan measures quality of life according to Gross National Happiness (GNH), rather than GNP. It has rapidly reduced poverty and its GDP per capita was US$2,584 in 2012.39 84% of the population have mobile phones and about 29% mobile broadband.40 Bhutan is one of the worlds youngest democracies. It held its first parliamentary elections in 2008. Youth participation is stressed as an important policy objective, although young people have few channels for voicing concerns.

Despite the GNH philosophy, which aspires to development encompassing environmental, spiritual, emotional and cultural dimensions, Bhutan faces big challenges. Youth unemployment in 2013 stood at 9.5% for males and 11.6% for females, with rates as high as 29.5% for males in urban areas.41 Rural-urban migration and the mismatch between available jobs and the aspirations and skills of applicants are causes. Youth self-harm, drug abuse, alienation, depression and suicide are also growing problems, with suicide the second most likely cause of death among the under 25s.

Notes and sources Apart from the countries chosen for this article, GYWI looked at Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria. Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, the US and Uganda. It found that most of today's youth are experiencing lower levels of wellbeing than hitherto, and how young people feel about their wellbeing does not always align with objective data.

1. Global Youth Wellbeing Index. Center for Strategic and International Studies & International Youth Foundation, 2014. youthindex.org/reports/globalyouthwellbeingindex.pdf

2. http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi

3. https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press_detail.php?id=1840

4. http://www.ln.edu.hk/news/20140217/children_happiness_index_2014

5. http://wikisites.cityu.edu.hk/sites/newscentre/en/Pages/201502160417.aspx

6. http://www.ideascentre.hk/wordpress/?p=7533&lang=en [in Chinese]

7. scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1454331/government-schools-need-do-more-stop-youth-suicides-say-experts

8. http://csrp.hku.hk/sss/

9. chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2012-09/13/content_15754097.htm

10. aracy.org.au/projects/report-card-the-wellbeing-of-young-australians

11. https://cica.org.au/wp-content/uploads/FYA_HYPAF-2013_Digital1.pdf

12. mindframe-media.info/for-media/reporting-suicide/facts-and-stats#sthash.NDHkCRIG.dpuf

13. headspace.org.au/what-works/research-information/depression

14. hindustantimes.com/specials/coverage/youthsurvey2013/chunk-ht-ui-youthsurvey2013-careerandmoneytopstories/41-of-the-youth-seek-happiness-30-want-to-be-rich/sp-article10-1104225.aspx

15. prnewswire.com/news-releases/mtv-networks-international-wellbeing-study-reveals-fascinating-insights-into-global-culture---telling-a-tale-of-two-worlds-for-kids-and-youth-56466407.html

16. oneindia.com/feature/2013/depression-takes-a-toll-on-youth-1233050.html

17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_suicide

18. mentalhealthy.co.uk/news/731-profile-of-mental-health-in-india.html

19. nippon.com/en/in-depth/a04002/

20. eastasiaforum.org/2014/09/17/the-fragile-happiness-of-japans-insular-youth/

21. globalkidsstudy.com/2013/02/05/global-kids-happiness-inde/

22. theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/04/japan-vows-suicide-rate-cut-cultural-resistance-mental-health

23. ipsosasiapacific.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/11/Press-Release-APAC-Happiness-Index-Q3-2013_FINAL.pdf

24. http://www.economist.com/node/21605942/print

25. drdf.org.ph/yafs4

26. mb.com.ph/suicide-is-second-leading-cause-of-death-among-youth-who/#SH9ri7vpWc1RZTTq.99

27. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/11/20/2014112001819.html

28. http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/03/20/poll-shows-half-of-korean-teenagers-have-suicidal-thoughts/

29. oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results-overview.pdf

30. wikigender.org/index.php/Thailand%E2%80%99s_Youth_Policy

31. thaivisa.com/forum/topic/582481-suicide-growing-among-thais/page-3

32. http://theconversation.com/explainer-how-does-the-uk-rank-on-child-well-being-24180

33. theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/02/one-in-10-jobless-yougov-poll

34. nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/children-depressed-signs.aspx

35. tasc-uk.org/category/organisation-type/youth-suicide

36. thanhniennews.com/education-youth/vietnam-youth-care-more-for-happiness-than-making-money-survey-19046.html

37. thanhniennews.com/education-youth/depression-mental-disorders-on-the-rise-among-vietnamese-students-29976.html

38. asianewsnet.net/news-36278.html

39. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2014/09/11/000470435_20140911111516/Rendered/PDF/905320WP0Bhuta00Box385319B00PUBLIC0.pdf

40. http://www.moic.gov.bt/ministry-statistics

41. bt.undp.org/content/bhutan/en/home/library/mdg/2013-maf-report-youth-employment-in-bhutan/

wor

M any youngsters get angry with family, teachers and peers. Anger leads to problems at school, in personal relationships and in overall wellbeing. Wilson Chan, a professional social worker who works with vulnerable youth, gives some advice.

Anger at the tipping point

Misunderstandings

Triggered memories

Failed expectations

Not accepting responsibility

Taunts

Projection (projecting feelings on to other people / things)

Guilt

Protectiveness (of self / loved ones)

Threats of any kind

Fear of rejection

Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness

Being criticised

Additives in food / drink

Critical judgments

Feelings of shame and vulnerability

Alcohol / drugs

Combined eects of medication, additives, alcohol etc

Displacement

What makes people angry?

Bouts of rage in adolescence are not unusual. Often the cause is frustration or too much pressure. Problems arise when emotions become uncontrollable. Then there can be verbal or physical aggression. Young people who are prone to behave like this can learn techniques for self-control.

The roots of anger may be genetic or physiological; some people are born more quick-tempered than others. They may also be sociocultural; some societies prefer non-confrontation and try to bottle up emotions. Family background may also contribute; people who are easily

angered tend to come from families that are not skilled at communication. However, one of the most common causes of anger is seeing things too much in black and white, jumping to conclusions and then overreacting.

Cognitive therapy for self-control

Cognitive therapy, sometimes referred to as CBT, is used by HKFYG counsellors with those prone to outbursts of anger to build self-awareness and improve self-control. There are four steps. The key to all is self-awareness and internal dialogue.

Youth Hong Kong

28

Insight| June 2015

wor

Reasons for anger Attention Sometimes, when young people seem angry they are actually seeking attention.

Boredom Anger may alleviate boredom through excitement and a rush of adrenaline.

Criticism In highly sensitive young people anger can be a natural response to criticism.

Habit Sometimes anger can be an ingrained behaviour pattern. Injustice Anger is a natural reaction to perceived injustice to others or oneself.

Low self-esteem When confidence is undermined, anger may be a defence mechanism.

Self-protection Anger is natural when a person or property is believed to be under threat.

Changing mindsets: ten key points1. Acknowledge the existence of a problem.

2. Understand causes of anger.

3. Use techniques to interrupt anger.

4. Keep a hostility log.

5. Learn to relax and laugh at yourself.

6. Listen effectively, miscommunication contributes to frustration.

7. Try to see the situation from another perspective.

8. Take exercise, go for a walk, stretch and breathe deeply.

9. Build trust and reduce cynicism.

10. Forgive those who make you angry.

How to control angerSTOP Put your right hand on your left shoulder.

WAIT Put your hands in your pockets or by your sides.

THINK Consider the consequences of losing your temper.

TALK Find a sympathetic ear and talk it over.

The first is being aware of feelings coming to a head and of the bodys reaction. With awareness, the mind can regain some control over the body and try to prevent over-reaction.

The second involves pattern-recognition. This means observing ones own behaviour and seeing the vicious cycle it can lead to. Counsellors recommend drawing a diagram of the process: what caused the anger in the first place, the young persons reaction to it, the results of that reaction both in the angry young person and their protagonist.

The third step involves analysis and identification of the advantages and disadvantages of being angry. Can it lead to any positive outcomes?

The last step encourages seeking alternatives to react at the point when anger is about to be acted out. This involves not only recognizing the internal alarm signals when they ring, but also knowing that they can be turned off. Strategies include finding distractions like playing a computer game, hitting a tennis ball or listening to music.

Sometimes anger can be an ingrained behaviour pattern.

Youth Hong Kong

Insight June 2015 |

29

G ood actors hold us spell-bound. For them, it seems as easy as breathing: making us laugh or cry, leaving us angry or sad, bringing us to our feet with thunderous applause. How do they learn to do it? Chow Chiu-lun, HKReps Deputy Head (Outreach and Education) explains.

YHK How do young people learn to act with you?

CCL You learn best by observing other people. Understanding yourself is important as well. Sometimes I have the feeling that young people here dont really understand who they are or what they want. They tend just to listen to teachers or family and let them decide what fits them. For the stage, the better you understand yourself, the more elements you can put into your role because every role you play comes from within yourself.

YHK Do you think that drama teaches young people how to be creative?

CCL I think the first thing is to understand what creativity is. From my point of view, creativity means having new ideas or developing a concept based on an existing idea. Creativity is not pure fiction and again, where drama is concerned, the most important element in being creative comes from observing oneself and others in daily life. Once you have enough source material, you can create your own play.

Inspiration not stage fright

every role you play comes from within yourself.every role you play comes from within yourself. source material, you can create your own play.

Youth Hong Kong

30

Arts & culture| June 2015

YHK Do young people change a lot after coming to classes at the HKRep?

CCL There are two types of students. First, there are those who are not really interested in the theatre. They have been pushed into it by teachers and parents. For this type of student, a transformation can take place as a result of learning how to act well. It is as if a door opens which lets them enter a new world. They find great inspiration and as they begin to understand drama better some choose to learn more because they realize they want to.

The other type of student has already been in a play at school, maybe in a leading role. This kind of student is self-motivating. They can tell the difference between a professional play and a school play and it drives them to want to learn and improve their acting.

YHK How do you build young peoples self-confidence?

CCL The most important thing is communication and interaction with other people, and that includes friends and teachers. If your mates and teachers give you good feedback from time to time, that will really build your confidence. But some teachers push young people to act on stage when they arent ready. That has the opposite effect. The stage is not like a magic wand. The teacher has to give students time, understand their strengths and then guide them.

YHK How does the HKRep inspire young people to become socially aware?

CCL For me, drama is all about change and transformation. In a play, the characters have roles where they face adversity and strive to make things better by transforming their existing unsatisfactory circumstances. After watching our plays, we always hope that the audience will gain personal strength from witnessing the characters on stage. Perhaps they will also be inspired to make changes for the better that will transform their own daily lives.

Call for Youth Talent in Theatre with Hang Seng Bank and HKRep This new drama training programme, co-organized by HKFYG and the HKRep, is sponsored by the Hang Seng Bank. It aims to build self-confidence and develop latent acting talent. Training is now underway in Sham Shui Po for performances on 19-20 September in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Jockey Club Auditorium.

More details csu.hkfyg.org.hk/page.aspx?corpname=csu&i=8892

Enquiries Alice Lui 3755 7067

Full details of the 2015-2016 programme and theatre education offered by the HKRep at hkrep.com.

Illustrations in this article are for coming productions. They are by Vivian Ho, courtesy of the HKRep.

Youth Hong Kong

Arts & culture June 2015 |

31

Love at fi rst sight

When Kim graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in the UK as a modern graphic designer she knew nothing about thangka, even though her mother was Buddhist. When they went to Tibet together she was astonished. I had no idea about the vibrant colour combinations and the modern drawing structure.

In the past, thangkas were used for mediation and Tibetans took them everywhere on their travels. As Kim said, Thangkas have to be rolled up many times. If the paint is too thick it will crack and fall off. Thats why the layers of paint have to be as thin as possible. This also keeps the colours vivid and produces a translucent effect.

Kim always felt something was missing from her artistic life and the images of thangkas she had seen went round and round in her head.

In the end I asked a Buddhist lama in Hong Kong where I could learn how to paint them. He told me the best place was the Tsering Art School in Kathmandu. Without giving it a second thought, I started planning to study there.

Kim thought she would master the art of thangka quickly. After training in Britain I was so confident of my skills, I thought I could learn the new technique in six months. In fact I couldnt even paint a single leaf! She studied the techniques for six years and then she wanted to share what she had learned by setting up a school in Hong Kong.

How to preserve this ancient art form?

Because the art of painting thangka is so time consuming, artists find it difficult to make a living and Kim is concerned that the ancient craft will be lost. It takes months, sometimes years

A thangka is a Buddhist wall hanging, usually painted on cotton or silk, mounted on a textile backing and kept rolled up when not on display. Chong Yin-kim (Kim) tells Ada Chau how she wants to preserve this ancient Tibetan art form.

ThangkaTreasure from the Buddhist Arts

by C

arst

en t

en B

rink

Youth Hong Kong

32

Arts & culture| June 2015

to paint one good thangka, and an enormous amount of patience. Some of my Hong Kong students loved drawing the outlines, the flowers, the patterns and the Buddha, but many left when it came to completing the colouring. They did not understand why it took so long, or why the paint had to be so thin. Now, I only teach Buddhists who are passionate about the art form. I hope they see their progress as a form of meditation.

In Nepal many are turning to producing non-traditional thangka, but Kim is keen to learn more about the authentic craft and wants to promote interest in this precious art form. She has just returned from a study trip to India and will put on a thangka exhibition in Hong Kong which she hopes will stimulate more interest in this delicate painting skill.

Tsering Art School, where Kim learned the traditonal Karma Gadri lineage thangka, was established in 1996 by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche at the Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu. Its aim is to preserve authentic Tibetan Buddhist culture. Many giant silk appliqu thangka in the same tradition did not survive the Cultural Revolution.same tradition did not survive the Cultural Revolution.

More details

shechen.org/cultural-preservation/art-school/

tibetcolor.com/tsurphu/67-the-karma-gadri-thangka.html

More details Munsel Thang-ka School of Art (Kims Workshop)

Address2/F, 14 Queen Victoria Street, Central District, Hong Kong

Tel 2696 0008 facebook.com/munselart

Photos courtesy of Tsering Art School

Youth Hong Kong

Arts & culture June 2015 |

33

With thanks to our partnersCo-organizing partner: Xu Beihong Art CommitteeMain sponsor: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

New Guinness World Record for The Largest Display of Sculptures made from Recycled Materials

Youth Hong Kong

34

Arts & culture| June 2015

Ten Thousand Galloping Horses United with One HeartThis massive art installation and educationa