Over 40% of Hong Kong’s ‘Gen Z’ suffer from moderate to severe depression, survey finds

2026-03-05 - 23:36

Over 40 per cent of Hong Kong’s “Generation Z” population, or those aged 18 to 24, suffer from moderate to severe depression, a survey has found, with researchers identifying excessive screen time as strongly linked with emotional distress. University students in Hong Kong. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (MHAHK) said on Thursday that Hong Kong residents had reported the worst mental health levels since it began conducting the biennial study in 2012. In the latest survey, conducted between September and November last year with 2,695 responses received, nearly 30 per cent of respondents reported “moderate to severe depression,” according to a press release. Specifically, 13.1 per cent of respondents experienced “moderately severe depression or above” – a group that the MHAHK said requires professional treatment and counselling. The figure is up from 11.1 per cent in the previous survey in 2023. The average depression score was 7.27, while the average anxiety score was 5.9. Meanwhile, 22.6 per cent reported “moderate to severe anxiety,” up from 18.5 per cent in 2023, while those reporting “severe anxiety” surged from 6.4 per cent to nine per cent. Researchers of the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Department of Social Work, from left: psychiatist Benjamin Lai, Social Work professor Angela Cui, MHAHK director Ching Chi-kong, MHAHK deputy director Stephen Wong. Photo: Supplied. “This reflects that, following the pandemic and shifts in the socio-economic environment in recent years, citizens continue to face tremendous adaptation pressure and emotional health is in a state of ongoing deterioration,” said Angela Cui, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Department of Social Work, which collaborated with the MHAHK in this year’s survey. Gen Z respondents were worst off, with 43.5 per cent reporting moderate to severe depression and 32.7 per cent reporting moderate to severe anxiety. Researchers at the MHAHK noted a positive correlation between Gen Z’s average screen time and their depression and anxiety scores, indicating that excessive use of electronic devices is closely associated with emotional distress. The study also found that 55 per cent of respondents said they would not or were unsure about seeking help from professionals, with some saying they can cope on their own. The Hong Kong skyline, on February 15, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. “More notably, AI assistants have risen to become the sixth most common help-seeking option among the public, and respondents who seek help from AI have comparatively higher depression and anxiety scores,” the MHAHK said. Researchers did not suggest that seeking help from AI causes depression and anxiety, but said it may delay professional intervention and fail to address root causes. The MHAHK recommended building a multi-layered social support network and urged the public to seek professional help for emotional distress. It also called on tertiary education institutions to make mental health courses compulsory to strengthen students’ self-help and peer support capacity.