Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
Good morning, welcome to #Hashtag Hong Kong. As a clinical psychologist at the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong - which is a non-profit association dedicated to mental health awareness and services - I would like to shine a spotlight on a condition that affects many but is often misunderstood: psychosis.
Let me start with a brief introduction about this condition. Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by a disconnection from reality. People experiencing psychosis may have difficulty differentiating what is real from what is not real. This can manifest through symptoms such as hallucinations. For example, you are seeing things or hearing things that aren’t there, and delusions – you are having strong beliefs that are not based in reality.
According to global estimates, approximately 3 in 100 people will experience psychosis at some point in their lives. It can occur at any age but is most commonly diagnosed in late adolescence to early adulthood. While it’s less common than other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, psychoeducation about psychosis and early intervention are crucial.
In general, symptoms can be categorized into positive symptoms and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms happen when a person is experiencing additional things that are originally not there. For example like delusional thoughts like somebody is spying on me or you are the president of a country, or having different types of hallucinations that pertain to our senses like auditory, visual and tactile. Or you may have disorganized speech and abnormal motor behaviors such as agitated movements or repetitive actions. On the other hand, negative symptoms refer to the absence or reduction of normal behaviors. For example like having flat affect, limited facial expressions, limited speech, changes in mood, lack of motivation, or lack of desire to engage in social activities.
Treatment typically involves a combination of antipsychotic medications, psychotherapy, and also psychosocial support groups. Early intervention is key—it can significantly improve outcomes. Psychotherapy such as Cognitive-behavioral therapy or we call CBT tailored for psychosis can help individuals to manage symptoms and to develop coping strategies. Support groups and community resources also play a vital role in recovery. There are a lot support groups tailored for individuals struggling with psychosis to target social skills improvement, self-care skills and independent living skills. The goal is to help them in skills building to decrease the functional impairments caused by psychosis, and hence resume a normal life and integrate back to the society.
On a personal level, I’ll say it’s crucial for individuals to maintain a structured daily routine, and to stay connected with supportive friends and family, and also follow with your treatment plans including medications and psychotherapy. It’s also important to explore interests and activities that bring you joy and purpose and to stay engaged with people around you.
I once had a client who’s been struggling with psychosis for over 10 years that he would cover his left ear whenever he hears voices. With proper treatment and skills building, he’s able to differentiate reality with his auditory hallucinations, so that he’s not being responsive or reactive to the voices, even if the voices are still there with him. Once he has become more stable with his symptoms, we started taking him to do volunteer work in the community where he would help dispatching lunch boxes to the homeless population. That volunteer work gave him opportunities to reconnect to people, to the community and also built a sense of accomplishment in him. Ultimately he’s able to live a fulfilling life despite his diagnosis.
I want to emphasize that psychosis is a treatable condition. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms, seeking help early can make a significant difference. Recovery is a journey, increasing awareness and reducing stigma are important steps to make sure everybody gets the right support they need. Last but not least, remember your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and no one should face these challenges alone.
Thank you so much for tuning in today and hope together we can build a more informed and supportive community.
Good morning, Hashtag HK.
As a mother of three, my husband and I have been blessed with our 6-year-old daughter Naima, and our 11-year-old twins, Ava, who is neurotypical, and Jacob, who has Down Syndrome. Throughout our parenting journey in Hong Kong, we've encountered various challenges—ranging from Jacob's prenatal diagnosis and the need for sensitive, comprehensive information about Down syndrome, to accessing essential health and developmental resources.
The start of our journey wasn’t ideal. our doctor in the public sector at that time lacked the bedside manner and the training to sensitively discuss her findings of our 20-week scan, so instead she chose to go through her findings in silence, which unfortunately created a huge sense of unease and nervousness as first-time parents. What should have been a momentous and memorable visit ended up being a confused and daunting encounter where we were left with many questions unanswered and were instead given a bunch of leaflets on Down syndrome to go home and read.
We gathered information from a range of diverse sources, such as parent blogs and Down syndrome charities. The challenge of organizing this wealth of information inspired me to create A Little Bit Extra: a centralized resource platform dedicated to providing the latest information, fostering connections, and offering support for the Down syndrome community.
One of our goals at ALBE is to work with maternity units within public hospitals to ensure expectant and new parents have access to ongoing support and contemporary accurate information regarding Down syndrome. We aim to provide training and resources to health care practitioners to ensure they understand the lived experience of having Down syndrome and realise the importance of their language and attitudes when speaking of Down syndrome.
There appears to be a real lack of understanding Down syndrome as an individual condition as it is often grouped under a general disability. This then leads to a lack of awareness as to what it truly means to be born with this condition and how to fully support those with down syndrome medically, within the educational arena and within the job market.
A huge emphasis is placed on early intervention for any child that has an additional need, however often parents are left to fend for themselves once their child reaches school age, as there is a real lack of inclusive activities available for our children and in particular as our children grow to become teenagers and young adults many are left to feel quite alone and isolated.
During Jacob’s early years we were provided with fortnightly occupational therapy, speech therapy and PT (physical therapy) sessions which were an absolute godsend as it helped to alleviate the financial pressures of the private therapy sessions we were giving him. However, after two years these were ceased which is frustrating as both occupational therapy and speech therapy are essential for Jacob’s development and something he will require until he’s an adult. The monthly expense of therapies is a significant financial burden for many parents.
There is estimated to be 3000 individuals with Down syndrome in Hong Kong and it will be our mission to seek out our friends and their families within our community to ensure they are able connect, engage with others and feel supported within our community.
Our biggest support has been the family network here in HK. When Jacob was born and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital we were appointed a social worker who then put us in touch with the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association who in turn connected us with a number of families here in HK which was invaluable for us at the time and we have built and maintained some beautiful friendships. This support and connection is something that we will continue to nurture through A Little Bit Extra.
To enhance the support for individuals with Down Syndrome in Hong Kong, we request the support of the government in the following key areas:
● Enhance Education and Training: Implement comprehensive education and training programs in hospitals so healthcare professionals can deliver diagnoses sensitively, using language that is both respectful and non-discriminatory during scans and upon delivery.
● Expand Therapy Support: Increase subsidies for therapy sessions, particularly for children aged 5 to 11, ensuring they receive essential support beyond early childhood to foster their development and integration.
● Promote Awareness and Acceptance: Officially recognize Down Syndrome as a distinct condition to elevate awareness and acceptance. This initiative will educate healthcare professionals, school educators, and corporations, encouraging inclusive employment practices.
● Alleviate Caregiver Concerns: Address the longstanding worry of caregivers regarding the future of their children by providing structured support systems, ensuring a secure and supportive environment for individuals with Down Syndrome as they transition into adulthood.
March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day. Please wear bright and bold coloured socks on this day to raise awareness and let us work together to build an inclusive and supportive community for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.
