The recent deaths of a 12-year-old girl and her mother in Hong Kong have reignited concern over the often-overlooked issue of parental mental health amid rising stress levels in the city. Experts emphasize that the mental well-being of parents is critical not only for their own health but also for the psychological development of their children.
A 2025 child and adolescent psychiatric epidemiological survey in Hong Kong revealed that nearly a quarter (24.4%) of children aged 6 to 17 experienced at least one mental disorder within a year. Among secondary school students, depression affected approximately 10% and anxiety 7.8%. The study also highlighted a significant correlation between elevated parental depression and anxiety and an increased likelihood of children developing anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behaviors.
The findings point to the cumulative pressures parents face in Hong Kong’s demanding social environment. Long working hours, job insecurity, high living costs, and limited workplace flexibility contribute to chronic exhaustion among parents. Dual-income families in particular grapple with persistent time constraints and conflicts between work and family responsibilities. Many parents also assume caregiving roles for elderly relatives, a situation known as the “sandwich generation,” which further compounds their stress.
The city’s intensely competitive academic culture can lead parents to prioritize children’s performance outcomes over emotional support, often transforming their role from nurturing caregivers to performance managers. Deep-rooted cultural expectations surrounding parental sacrifice reinforce the tendency to place children’s needs above parents’ own psychological well-being. However, experts caution that this model is unsustainable. When parents are overwhelmed, the emotional environment at home deteriorates, negatively affecting children’s mental health.
Advocates call for increased recognition of parental mental health as a public health priority. Integrating mental health screenings for depression and anxiety into settings frequented by parents—such as maternal and child health clinics, pediatric services, schools, primary care centers, and even workplaces—could help identify and address parental distress early.
Services tailored to parents’ realities are also crucial, including after-hours availability, affordability, and efforts to reduce associated stigma. Mind HK, a local mental health organization, promotes mindful parenting training, encouraging parents to develop greater awareness of their emotional states and to respond with self-compassion rather than self-criticism. This approach challenges prevailing cultural attitudes of self-sacrifice by emphasizing that caring for one’s own mental health is essential in effectively supporting children.
Dr. Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK, stressed that parents are central to family systems and that failing to acknowledge their mental health needs places entire families at risk. In response to the recent tragedy, she urged society to begin seeing, supporting, and valuing the psychological well-being of those raising children.
Support services remain available for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional crises, including the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline (18111), The Samaritans (2896 0000), and Suicide Prevention Services (2382 0000).