Lady MacLehose Centre reveals link between dismal housing conditions and stress

Publish Date: 24-Apr-2018

The Group and Community Work Unit under HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre started conducting research on the mental health conditions of residents of inadequate housing in Kwai Tsing February last year. Results announced on 30 March revealed that 90 percent of the surveyed considered housing conditions their prime source of stress, and 80 percent reported suffering from mental distress.

The research shows that risk of fire, low safety standards, poor hygiene, bad indoor air quality, and mental distress are five problems facing the tenants in subdivided flats. Seventy percent of the surveyed also showed signs of anxiety, depression, and other forms of distress.

Mr Chan Ching-wa, senior service coordinator of Lady MacLehose Centre, recommended the government and community organizations to spread information regarding mental health issues and related services via an ambassador project. This would enable the distressed to identify the problems they faced at an early stage and foster a supportive network within the community.