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**Hong Kong Students’ Mental Health Begins at Home**

Readers discuss the power of emotionally attuned parenting, and ways to improve the city’s taxi industry


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I’m writing in response to
the letter
, “Is Hong Kong’s culture of comparison weighing down on students?” (June 15). As a psychotherapist – and someone who grew up in Hong Kong and struggled with mental health in adolescence – I’d like to offer a different perspective.

First, mental health challenges rarely stem from a single cause. They typically arise from a combination of life events, internalised beliefs and negative thought patterns. Even when an initial trigger is identified and resolved, distress can persist due to ingrained, unconscious thinking habits. Focusing too narrowly on a cause may hinder progress, retraumatise clients or rush therapy before trust is established.

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Many people already have some sense of what they need to do to improve but aren’t ready to act – because what they truly need first is to feel heard and understood. In my experience, lasting change begins not with advice or problem-solving techniques, but with empathy, presence and nonjudgement.

This need for emotional attunement points to a broader cultural context. Although Hong Kong’s culture of comparison is important to discuss, beyond social pressures lies a deeper issue: emotional needs often go unmet in families. Many households show care through practical means – food, education, financial support – while emotional connection and open expression are less prioritised.

These dynamics have lasting effects. Many clients trace their struggles to early experiences of dismissal, criticism or discouragement from expressing feelings. Although these moments may seem small, over time they can damage a child’s sense of worth and become traumatic. Children may learn that their needs don’t matter, that they’re unlovable, or that love is conditional. When combined with external pressures rooted in comparison, these messages intensify feelings of inadequacy and contribute significantly to mental health challenges.

Yet families can also be a powerful source of resilience. As the first point of contact for children, families are where children first learn about themselves, the world and how to relate to others. Even one emotionally attuned parent can help a child develop a secure sense of self, providing strong protection for mental health.

While insecure early attachments present challenges, children can still develop secure bonds later with other adults or peers. However, this process is often more challenging because they must unlearn harmful internalised beliefs already acquired, shifting the focus from prevention to intervention.

As Hong Kong moves forward, fostering lasting mental well-being will require us to prioritise nurturing the vital relationships formed within families.


Tian Yeung, Michigan

How to solve the conundrum of taxis vs Uber

Sometimes I think there has been too much criticism of Hong Kong’s taxis. Yes, on occasion there is rudeness but on the whole those involved in the business have done a great job for many years.

They have complied with the law, have the correct licences, have insurance and have invested in their business. Meanwhile, Uber and other ride-hailing services have operated in a legal grey area.

Usually Uber trips are more expensive than traditional taxi rides so price is not the issue.

I would suggest setting eight years as the maximum age of the taxi to improve quality, making the acceptance of Octopus cards mandatory to aid passenger payment, introducing a maximum age of 70 for taxi drivers – and increasing the flagfall by 30 per cent. This would encourage more younger drivers to join the trade.

Then clamp down properly on those that break the law whether they are taxis or with a ride-hailing platform.


Ian A. Skeggs, Wong Chuk Hang

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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