IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ariqol/v15y2020i1d10.1007_s11482-018-9673-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Common Mental Health Challenges in a University Context in Hong Kong: a Study Based on a Review of Medical Records

Author

Listed:
  • Sze Mon Lo

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Ho Cheong Wong

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Ching Yee Lam

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Daniel T. L. Shek

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

While numerous studies have suggested the rising prevalence of common mental disorders amongst university students, studies examining mental health of Chinese university students are limited. As such, this study reviewed medical records of the Mental Wellness Clinic in one local University in Hong Kong from September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017. The diagnosis and the recurrent themes were identified by retrospective analysis. Results showed that the top three diagnoses were anxiety, depression and subthreshold psychosomatic symptoms, accountable for 76% of all the 135 cases. The top three recurrent themes of maladjustment were academic and work stress (62%), family stress (33%) and stress from peers and romantic relationship (18%). Ten out of the 135 cases (1 in 14) showed active suicidal idea or recent suicidal attempt(s) that required urgent psychiatric intervention. This study echoes with the global and local studies that anxiety and depression are the top two issues of students for seeking help from mental health professionals. It is argued that cultural factors must be taken into account when interpreting the findings. The strengths of having a Mental Wellness Clinic in the university campus for promoting well-being of university students are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sze Mon Lo & Ho Cheong Wong & Ching Yee Lam & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2020. "Common Mental Health Challenges in a University Context in Hong Kong: a Study Based on a Review of Medical Records," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 207-218, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:15:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-018-9673-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-018-9673-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11482-018-9673-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11482-018-9673-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniel T. L. Shek & Li Lin, 2017. "Trajectories of Personal Well-Being Attributes Among High School Students in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 841-866, December.
    2. Colin D Mathers & Dejan Loncar, 2006. "Projections of Global Mortality and Burden of Disease from 2002 to 2030," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(11), pages 1-20, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tao Wang & Zhiying Yao & Qianqian Liu & Jingjing Zhao & Xinting Wang & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Mandana Vahabi & Cunxian Jia, 2023. "The Mediating Effect of Stress between Extracurricular Activities and Suicidal Ideation in Chinese College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Xiang Li & Daniel T. L. Shek & Esther Y. W. Shek, 2021. "Psychological Morbidity among University Students in Hong Kong (2014–2018): Psychometric Properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Related Correlates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Zheng Zhou & Daniel T.L. Shek & Xiaoqin Zhu & Diya Dou, 2020. "Positive Youth Development and Adolescent Depression: A Longitudinal Study Based on Mainland Chinese High School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Nelson W. Y. Tam & Sylvia Y. C. L. Kwok & Minmin Gu, 2023. "Individual, Peer, and Family Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among College Students in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jia Lu & Shabana Jamani & Joseph Benjamen & Eric Agbata & Olivia Magwood & Kevin Pottie, 2020. "Global Mental Health and Services for Migrants in Primary Care Settings in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-28, November.
    2. Eldon Spackman & Stewart Richmond & Mark Sculpher & Martin Bland & Stephen Brealey & Rhian Gabe & Ann Hopton & Ada Keding & Harriet Lansdown & Sara Perren & David Torgerson & Ian Watt & Hugh MacPherso, 2014. "Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Acupuncture, Counselling and Usual Care in Treating Patients with Depression: The Results of the ACUDep Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Peele, Morgan & Wolf, Sharon, 2020. "Predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among teachers in Ghana: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    4. Carsten Hinrichsen & Vibeke Jenny Koushede & Katrine Rich Madsen & Line Nielsen & Nanna Gram Ahlmark & Ziggi Ivan Santini & Charlotte Meilstrup, 2020. "Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Emmanuel Peprah & Elisabet Caler & Anya Snyder & Fassil Ketema, 2020. "Deconstructing Syndemics: The Many Layers of Clustering Multi-Comorbidities in People Living with HIV," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-7, June.
    6. Hoehun Ha & Wei Tu, 2018. "An Ecological Study on the Spatially Varying Relationship between County-Level Suicide Rates and Altitude in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Eduardo Martínez-Martínez & María Luisa Zaragoza & Elmer Solano & Brenda Figueroa & Patricia Zúñiga & Juan P Laclette, 2012. "Health Research Funding in Mexico: The Need for a Long-Term Agenda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(12), pages 1-11, December.
    8. G. Guindon, 2014. "The impact of tobacco prices on smoking onset in Vietnam: duration analyses of retrospective data," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 15(1), pages 19-39, January.
    9. Jessica Pinaire & Jérôme Azé & Sandra Bringay & Guillaume Cayla & Paul Landais, 2019. "Hospital burden of coronary artery disease: Trends of myocardial infarction and/or percutaneous coronary interventions in France 2009–2014," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, May.
    10. Nuño, Roberto & Coleman, Katie & Bengoa, Rafael & Sauto, Regina, 2012. "Integrated care for chronic conditions: The contribution of the ICCC Framework," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(1), pages 55-64.
    11. Hsiu-Ju Chang & Chien-Chang Liao & Chaur-Jong Hu & Winston W Shen & Ta-Liang Chen, 2013. "Psychiatric Disorders after Epilepsy Diagnosis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-7, April.
    12. Hui-Hsin Ko & Wu-Chien Chien & Yen-Hung Lin & Chi-Hsiang Chung & Shih-Jung Cheng, 2017. "Examining the correlation between diabetes and odontogenic infection: A nationwide, retrospective, matched-cohort study in Taiwan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, June.
    13. D. K. Shangodoyin & A. O. Adebile & J. F. Ojo & J. O. Olaomi, 2012. "Time series model for predicting the mean death rate of a disease," Statistics in Transition new series, Główny Urząd Statystyczny (Polska), vol. 13(2), pages 405-418, June.
    14. Moyer, Jonathan D. & Hedden, Steve, 2020. "Are we on the right path to achieve the sustainable development goals?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    15. Lagravinese, R. & Moscone, F. & Tosetti, E. & Lee, H., 2014. "The impact of air pollution on hospital admissions: Evidence from Italy," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 278-285.
    16. Ahmad Salman & Maha Sellami & Abdulla Saeed AL-Mohannadi & Sungsoo Chun, 2019. "The Associations between Mental Well-Being and Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Results from the Scottish Health Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-13, September.
    17. Kuan-Yin Lin & Chi-Chuan Wang & Chia-Hui Lin & Wang-Huei Sheng & Shan-Chwen Chang, 2015. "Fluoroquinolones versus β-Lactam/β-Lactamase Inhibitors in Outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pneumonia: A Nationwide Population-Based Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-12, August.
    18. Tarek Assad & Tarek Okasha & Hisham Ramy & Tamer Goueli & Hanan El-Shinnawy & Mohamed Nasr & Heba Fathy & Dalia Enaba & Dina Ibrahim & Mahmoud Elhabiby & Nesreen Mohsen & Sherien Khalil & Mohamed Fekr, 2015. "Role of traditional healers in the pathway to care of patients with bipolar disorder in Egypt," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(6), pages 583-590, September.
    19. Xianglong Xu & Lingli Liu & Manoj Sharma & Yong Zhao, 2015. "Smoking-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, Smoking Cessation Idea and Education Level among Young Adult Male Smokers in Chongqing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    20. Mónika Kellermann & Roland Berecz & Dániel Bereczki, 2018. "Does the severity of depressive symptoms after stroke affect long-term survival? An 18-year follow-up," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-11, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:15:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-018-9673-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.