Hong Kong government outlines multi-pronged support for Gen Y mental health
Hong Kong's government has detailed existing and planned measures to support Generation Y mental health, including a workplace charter, a helpline, and community programmes, in response to legislative questions about a survey showing falling happiness and rising depression among the cohort.
HONG KONG — The government has outlined its existing and planned measures to support the mental health of Generation Y, following a legislative question referencing a survey that showed a slight drop in the city's overall happiness index and identified the cohort as the unhappiest group. The survey also indicated that more than 40 per cent of respondents reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
In a written reply on 4 November, the government said it was taking a multi-pronged approach across employment, emotional support, family-friendly policies and community networks to support Generation Y — generally defined as those born in the 1980s and 1990s. The reply was coordinated across the Bureau of Home Affairs, Youth and Home Affairs Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, and the Department of Health.
On employment, the Labour Department runs job centres offering personalised career counselling, training and referral to employment schemes. The Youth Development Blueprint, first published in 2022, outlines youth development activities including internships, entrepreneurship programmes and volunteer services. A Youth Positive Thinking Activity Grant Scheme funds non-governmental organisations to run projects promoting mental well-being and resilience among young people.
For emotional support, the government highlighted the 'Emotional Hotline 18111', a 24-hour mental health support hotline launched in December 2023. As of September, it had handled over 350,000 calls. The 'Shall We Talk' public education campaign, launched in July 2020, provides online mental health resources for the public, workplaces and schools. The Social Welfare Department operates 25 community mental health centres offering one-stop services including counselling and group activities, and has run five mobile promotion vehicles since 2019.
To promote mentally healthy workplaces, the Department of Health, the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council launched the 'Mental Health Workplace Charter'. As of the end of September, over 3,400 organisations had signed the charter. The government said the 2026/27 promotional theme would be 'workplace communication', with enhanced training content. In October, the Social Welfare Department launched a 'Mental Health Promotion Ambassador Training Pilot Programme' aiming to recruit 5,000 ambassadors of all ages, including Gen Y, to spread positive mental health messages and reduce stigma.
On family support, the government funds a five-year Family Education Promotion Programme launched in October 2024, providing HK$8 million annually for community-based family education projects. The Family Council produces promotional videos and radio programmes to encourage family-friendly workplace measures such as flexible working and parental leave.