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South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Face Off: Should students have mandatory counselling sessions in school?
If you are interested in joining future Face Off debates, fill out this form to submit your application. For: Claudia Loh, 16, Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School Claudia Loh attends Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School. Photo: Handout Hong Kong students face an immense amount of pressure. One 2023 study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) found that 24.4 per cent of children and adolescents had experienced at least one mental health issue in the past year, and more than 8 per cent of secondary school students had thought about suicide. The demand for the Hospital Authority's psychiatric services has also been on the rise in recent years. It is clear there is a mental health crisis in Hong Kong, and we need to take urgent action. Most students need help. But the stigma surrounding mental health issues makes speaking up difficult. Students may feel reluctant to admit, even to themselves, that they need support. Therefore, mandatory counselling sessions would benefit students and society. Hong Kong Gen Z anxiety rates soar, study calls for emotional education First, for a student who struggles but does not reach out for help, required counselling would ensure they get the support needed. For society, this move would help destigmatise mental health issues and normalise seeking help. In the future, people will be less reluctant to admit they need help and seek it. Even for students who don't necessarily need mental health support, it can be beneficial to talk out any problems they might have. They can also build resilience and learn good coping mechanisms to lead healthier lives. While hiring counsellors may be expensive, I believe it is worth the cost. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Schools have nurses, so why not therapists? Mental well-being is integral to development and greatly affects our quality of life. Why are Hong Kong teens 'lying flat'? For some, it's 'not as stressful' Still, it is important to recognise that not every school can afford mandatory counselling sessions led by professionals. As an alternative, community members and older students should be trained by counsellors and armed with resources. Then, they can help counsel younger students and lead mental health support initiatives. As older students were once in the place of younger pupils, they can provide their perspectives and tailored solutions. While this may not be traditional counselling, it still provides structural support for students. This alternative would not replace professional help but supplement it. In conclusion, it is essential that students are taught effective coping mechanisms and have access to support in school. If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline. You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations' helplines, see this page. Against: Cadence Kwok, 19, Marymount Secondary School Cadence Kwok attends Marymount Secondary School. Photo: Handout While counselling should be readily available to students, making it mandatory would have downsides. For students who find their stress levels manageable, this requirement puts unnecessary pressure on them. Moreover, these required sessions would eat away at the limited free time that students enjoy, which could have been used to explore their non-academic interests or simply get some well-deserved rest. With already hectic schedules, compulsory counselling would be more burdensome than beneficial. Some may argue that students are afraid to reach out for help, and school counselling would give them access to professional support. But if their participation is required rather than a decision they have made, would they truly open up about their emotions? Students would be reluctant to express themselves fully if they feel they are being 'forced' to attend. This makes sessions less effective, as counsellors will not get a thorough understanding of each student's emotional state. How practising gratitude can benefit your mental health and help during tough times For students in dire need of help, this initiative provides inadequate support. A much higher demand would drastically increase counsellors' workload. Previously, they may have worked with a few cases and easily stayed up to date with each person's circumstances. Now, they would have to provide counselling to every student in the school. Inevitably, students in need would not only receive less individual time with a counsellor, but the quality of counselling would drop as well. To conserve time, counsellors may organise group sessions to fulfil their duty in the most efficient manner, rather than one-on-one sessions. Then, each student would not get sufficient time to focus on their personal struggles, and attention would be diverted towards more talkative students. Advice given may not be as concrete and specific to each individual. Counselling then fails to achieve its intended purpose of offering practical suggestions to enhance mental health. Weez Walk raises money for youth mental health in Hong Kong while giving people a chance to 'walk and talk' It is undeniable that students must find ways to relieve their day-to-day stress and uplift their mood. School counselling provides a safe space to talk things out and gain a more mature, adult perspective on the obstacles they face. However, mandatory counselling sessions are not the solution. It is better to continue providing counselling for students who voluntarily sign up.
South China Morning Post
16-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: Trump's isolationist turn threatens Ukraine in war with Russia
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Claudia Loh, 16, Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School Claudia Loh says Trump's isolationist policy threatens Ukraine and risks realigning global dynamics. Photo: Handout US President Donald Trump is becoming increasingly harsh towards Ukraine in his pursuit of an isolationist policy. This approach is similar to the US' stance before World War I when America refrained from involving itself in European affairs, hence the term 'isolationist.' Through his policies, it appears that Trump aims to revive an 'America First' mentality, moving away from the policing role that his predecessors were often accused of embodying. He has repeatedly stated his desire to withdraw funding from Ukraine. This would have severe consequences for Ukraine, as the US has been its primary source of financial support since the start of the war. Trump's approach suggests he seeks a swift conclusion to the conflict by any means necessary, contradicting previous American foreign policies. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict could result in two global superpowers aligning on one side while other nations scramble to respond on the opposite side. The US is considered a global superpower and holds a lot of influence. Trump is a strong, commanding presence, and he is not afraid to speak what he believes is the truth. Any action from the US could be damaging to Ukraine's future. America is the world's dominant economic and military power; other countries naturally want to trade with them, so they may follow their lead. Cutting off financial support is a harsh action; even if it benefits the US, it could mean the loss of millions of lives on the Ukrainian front. Regardless of whether this would lead to a quick end of the war, the morality of the action should be considered. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Singapore may legislate caning for severe scam offences after record financial losses. Photo: Shutterstock Singapore will consider caning as punishment for serious scam-related offences as it steps up enforcement action following record losses. Residents in the city state lost at least S$1.1 billion (HK$6.41 billion) to scams in 2024, a 70 per cent increase from the year before, as per the Singapore Police Force. 'We will consider ... caning to be prescribed for certain scam-related offences, recognising the serious harm they can cause,' Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said during a parliamentary debate. Sun was responding to a question by Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng on whether caning should be legislated for serious scam-related offences. According to local media outlet CNA, Tan had earlier called for the legislation. 'We must send a clear message to scammers, the syndicates and those who abet them: If you mess with our people, make off with the life savings of Singaporeans, scam Singaporeans, we must do everything in our power to teach the scammers a lesson they won't forget,' he said. Sun warned that scammers had upgraded their playbook even though several protective measures were already in place in the banking industry. 'They have started asking victims to convert their money to cryptocurrencies prior to performing the transfers, thereby evading our banking safeguards,' she said, adding that cryptocurrency-related cases accounted for nearly 25 per cent of all scam losses. She advised Singaporeans 'to steer clear of cryptocurrencies'. Official data showed that investment scams accounted for the bulk of scam-related losses last year at 28.8 per cent, followed by job scams at 14 per cent. Meanwhile, government official impersonation scams accounted for 13.6 per cent of losses. Staff writers, agencies Research and respond What impact, if any, would caning have on the persistence of scams in Singapore? Do you believe that caning is an ethical form of punishment? What additional measures can the Singaporean government take to address the increase in scams?
South China Morning Post
02-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: Singapore's anti-discrimination law fails to protect LGBTQ workers
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Claudia Loh, 16, Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School Claudia Loh says education is important to help change attitudes around gender identity. Photo: Handout I think gender identity and sexual orientation were not included in Singapore's new law against discrimination in the workplace because the general atmosphere of the world, especially in Asia, is more conservative. The older generation tends to think gender identity and sexual orientation are choices that people make for themselves. For them, any discrimination would be warranted since a person's choices around gender and sexuality were conscious decisions. However, this is not the case. One cannot decide one's sexual orientation, and it is perfectly fine to express yourself however you wish in terms of gender. However, the older generation still makes most of the laws, which leads to a lack of protection for those who face prejudice. Education is paramount if the Singaporean government and companies want to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for the queer community. Thanks to misinformation, being queer is still seen as abnormal and is heavily stigmatised in society. The government could do better to educate the public on the queer community – they simply identify differently from what is considered 'normal'. These people are humans, just like everyone else. This could be done by inclusivity, with more TV shows accurately portraying queer characters to allow more representation and increased understanding. Queer voices should be encouraged in society in order to erase stigma, for example, in the form of literature, to better understand and appreciate equality. Also, the government should create laws and regulations to enforce equal treatment for those in the queer community, making it illegal to discriminate based on gender identity or sexuality. Read and observe Hippos are known to be fiercely territorial animals. Photo: TNS A New Jersey man whose wife was killed in a horrific hippopotamus attack last year during a safari in Africa is suing the US company that arranged the trip, alleging it failed to ensure their safety and did not adequately screen and supervise the tour guides. The couple were on a guided walk in Zambia in June when a hippo charged out of the water, grabbed Lisa Manders by its mouth and crushed her head and body, according to the lawsuit filed against African Portfolio, a safari tour company. The company denies the allegations. The lawsuit alleges that the tour guides – including at least one armed with a rifle – walked away without helping. Lisa Manders, 70, suffered catastrophic injuries and died shortly after, the lawsuit says. Paul Slager, a lawyer representing Craig Manders, said: 'There are basic safety standards that businesses are expected to follow ... And those were not followed.' Slager said the lawsuit seeks damages that have not yet been determined and accountability for the death. The company's lawyer, Rodney Gould, said it was not negligent or reckless in connection with the death. He said African Portfolio only arranged the lodging, adding that the owners of the lodging, Chiawa Safaris in Zambia, provided the tour guides. 'It's a horrible tragedy when somebody goes on one of these trips and is injured or killed,' Gould said. 'I think it's important to understand what African Portfolio's role in this is. It's a tour operator. It arranges trips.' African Portfolio said Chiawa arranged the walking safari and guests were accompanied by an experienced and highly trained guide, a ranger and an armed scout. It said Chiawa told authorities that safety measures were implemented before the attack and 'repeated warnings' were issued to guests to return to the safety of the vehicle 'during the incident'. Associated Press Research and respond Do you think African Portfolio should take responsibility for the incident? If so, how? How can safaris better protect their participants so that incidents like these don't happen?
