Prevalence, time trends, and correlates of major depressive episode and other psychiatric conditions among young people amid major social unrest and COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a representative epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022

Wong, Stephanie M.Y.; Chen, Eric Y.H.; Suen, Y.N.; Wong, Corine S.M.; Chang, W.C.; Chan, Sherry K.W.; McGorry, Patrick D.; Morgan, Craig; van Os, Jim; McDaid, David; Jones, Peter B.; Lam, T.H.; Lam, Linda C.W.; Lee, Edwin H.M.; Tang, Eric Y.H.; Ip, Charlie H.; Ho, Winky W.K.; McGhee, Sarah M.; Sham, P.C.; Hui, Christy L.M.

doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100881

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Furthermore, a signi cant majority of 49% of the students reported varying degrees of stress, with levels ranging from mild to extremely severe. These results align with the ndings of other studies (7,10,14,16) that have suggested that mental health issues among Hong Kong's youth are prevalent and require attention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

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Understanding the Prevalence and Consequences of Mental Health Disorders among Youths: A Focus on Secondary School Students in Hong Kong.

Fang,

Oladosu

2023

Preprint

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Background Young people are significantly affected by mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress. Mental health education and awareness have been proven effective in preventing these disorders. However, there is evidence that mental health education is lacking or voluntary in local secondary schools in Hong Kong, increasing the vulnerability of young people in local schools compared to their peers in international schools. Therefore, understanding the prevalence of mental health disorders among local secondary school students in Hong Kong is crucial to highlight the necessity of mental health education and support in addressing these challenges effectively. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the mental health of young people attending local secondary schools in Hong Kong. By gaining a deeper understanding of the prevalent mental health issues, the study emphasises the need for mental health awareness in local schools in Hong Kong. Methods The study utilized a quantitative survey method to collect data on mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress among from 377 local secondary school students in Hong Kong. The survey employed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21) to measure the prevalence of mental health disorders. Inferential analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26 to generate the result of this study. Results The study findings indicate that 33.3% of local secondary students experienced depression, 41.4% experienced anxiety, and 49% experienced stress. Additionally, there were gender variations across all mental health disorders, with females reporting higher levels of severe depression, anxiety, and stress compared to male students in local secondary schools. Conclusions This study emphasizes the high prevalence and severity of mental health conditions among local secondary school students in Hong Kong, highlighting the importance of integrating mental health education into the curriculum of these schools. It reveals a significant proportion of students experiencing poor mental health, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress. Gender disparities are observed, with females experiencing more severe mental health conditions. The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions and support for females, while promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma for all students. Further research is recommended to understand underlying factors and inform evidence-based interventions. Proactive measures are necessary to address mental health concerns and create a supportive environment for young people in Hong Kong, especially in local secondary schools.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…According to a large-scale survey recently conducted by the Hong Kong University, about 17% of Hong Kong youths suffer at least one mental disorder (7). Another study by a youth group one in four youngsters in Hong Kong feel pessimistic about their life, compared to 17.2 percent in 2017 (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Prevalence and Consequences of Mental Health Disorders among Youths: A Focus on Secondary School Students in Hong Kong.

Fang,

Oladosu

2023

Preprint

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“…These statistics are alarming, especially considering that 74% of individuals with common mental disorders do not seek professional help [2]. Among various mental disorders, it is worth noting that young people aged 15-24 years experiencing major depression episodes have the lowest service utilization rate at 16.7%, which can be attributed to the high cost of psychiatric service [3], indicating a significant gap in access to appropriate care and support for this vulnerable population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Multi-Strain E3 Probiotic Formulation Improved Mental Health Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Hong Kong Chinese

Chan,

Siu,

Choy

et al. 2023

Nutrients

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Mental health issues have emerged as a significant concern in public health, given their association with physical and psychological comorbidities and the resultant socioeconomic burdens. Recent studies have highlighted the interplay between gut microbes and brain functions through the gut–brain axis. To investigate this further, we conducted a targeted 16S rRNA sequencing and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis among Southern Chinese individuals to explore the role of the gut microbiome in depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. We analyzed the differences in the gut microbiome profile of 68 participants with sleep disturbance and mood symptoms before and after an 8-week course of a novel oral E3 multi-strain probiotics formula. The results revealed a significant improvement in subjective sleep quality (PSQI: mean 8.79 at baseline vs. 7.10 at week 8, p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (PHQ9: mean 6.17 at baseline vs. 4.76 at week 8, p < 0.001), and anxious symptoms (GAD7: mean 4.90 at baseline vs. 3.76 at week 8, p < 0.001). Additionally, there were notable differences in beta diversity (weighted UniFrac; p = 0.045) and increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio (p = 4 × 10−4) were observed in the gut microbiome analysis. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium bifidum (p < 0.001), Lactobacillus acidophilus (p < 0.001), Lactobacillus helveticus (p < 0.001) and Lactobacillus plantarum (p < 0.001) were significantly increased after the 8-week probiotic supplementation. Our study suggests that the gut microbial landscape varies between responders and non-responders at multiple levels, including genera, species, functional, and network interaction. Notably, the use of probiotics in populations with depressive or anxious symptoms and poor sleeping quality remodeled the gut microbiome and demonstrated improved mood and sleep quality.

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The changing association between pandemic-related stressors and child and adolescent mental health during the waning phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Maselko,

Shartle,

Lansford

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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This study examined the relation between pandemic-related stressors and mental health among young people (YP) in India during two time points in the waning phase of the pandemic. We use data from two cross-sectional waves of over 20,000 YP aged 5–19 in February 2022, during the peak of the Omicron wave, and October 2022, during a reduction in infections and easing of restrictions. COVID illness/death in the family’s social network, current lockdown stringency, and significant change in household income were examined in relation to adult respondents’ reports of YP internalizing symptoms. Internalizing symptoms declined slightly from February to October 2022. COVID-19 illness/death in the family’s network was generally associated with more internalizing symptoms. Higher lockdown stringency was associated with lower levels of internalizing symptoms. YP in households with increases in income tended to have more internalizing symptoms. Many associations were driven by older adolescents and were stronger during the earlier (Feb-2022) than later (Oct-2022) data collection time-points. The findings illustrate the importance of anchoring results within a study’s specific geographic context, including concurrent events during the study period. Importantly, findings that may initially seem counterintuitive ultimately illuminate the dynamic and complex processes underlying child and adolescent mental health.

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Prevalence, time trends, and correlates of major depressive episode and other psychiatric conditions among young people amid major social unrest and COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a representative epidemiological study from 2019 to 2022

Cited by 8 publications

References 46 publications

Understanding the Prevalence and Consequences of Mental Health Disorders among Youths: A Focus on Secondary School Students in Hong Kong.

Understanding the Prevalence and Consequences of Mental Health Disorders among Youths: A Focus on Secondary School Students in Hong Kong.

Novel Multi-Strain E3 Probiotic Formulation Improved Mental Health Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Hong Kong Chinese

The changing association between pandemic-related stressors and child and adolescent mental health during the waning phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

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