In a recent interview with Fanny Yu, a registered social worker at The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group (HKFYG), we asked her about her experience in the field for over a decade. Here’s what she had to say:
As the supervisor of The Hong Kong Federation of (HKFYG) Youth Groups, I supervise the school social workers to support 35 secondary schools and 24 primary schools at the moment. School social workers play a vital role in the educational system, providing essential support and services to students, families, and school staff. As trained professionals with a background in social work, we are equipped to address the diverse social, emotional and behavioural needs of students.
In my experience, students face significant challenges related to their well-being and mental health. A major issue we see these days is the pressure to achieve academic performance that aligns with personal expectations. The current educational system often emphasises academic achievements as the primary indicators of success, leading many parents to believe that graduating from university is the only path to a successful future. This creates immense pressure on students.
Another challenge stems from family relationships. Effective parenting skills are crucial for fostering students’ well-being. However, many parents struggle with their own marital issues and emotional difficulties, which can negatively impact their parenting abilities. Some parents resort to punitive measures or express their frustrations through upset behaviours, leaving students feeling unsafe and mentally unstable.
Given your work in school social work at HKFYG, what are the primary challenges that students face related to wellbeing and mental health?
Recently, we are seeing peer relationships play a critical role in students’ lives. Students need friends, but social media complicates these dynamics. Conflicts that arise among peers are online, exacerbating tensions and creating additional stress. We sometimes see that students struggle to manage stress and find it difficult to navigate these challenges, which adversely affects their emotional and mental health.
To address these issues, preventive measures are essential. We engage students in various activities that help them recognise and accept different emotions, thereby improving their motivation. We also provide training for teachers to identify students’ emotional needs early on. When teachers recognise these needs, they can refer students to counselling services for further support.
Building empathy and understanding is vital; we try to create a collaborative environment where students feel supported in overcoming their challenges by teaching problem-solving and stress-management skills to empower them.
How do your interventions address these challenges in safeguarding students and providing care?
Sometimes, we refer our students to psychologists or psychiatrists for medication or in-depth therapy, as well as family service centres for counselling. For families facing financial difficulties, we also try to help by finding emergency funding solutions. By promoting leadership training and volunteer services to enhance student wellbeing and foster positive health outcomes, our initiatives such as mentorship programmes, where older students guide younger ones, are particularly effective in creating supportive peer networks. We strive to pair senior students with primary students to provide them with a mentor and a reliable buddy they can trust and confide in.
Can you provide examples of successful strategies or programmes implemented that have effectively enhanced student wellbeing and promoted positive mental health?
Throughout the years, we organise programmes focused on mental health healing, such as mindfulness practices and community service opportunities. We try to involve students in community service so that they can experience sense of achievement and fulfilment, helping them to discover their values while contributing positively to society.
However, there are misconceptions about seeking help; many believe that only those with severe emotional assistance. It is crucial to encourage students or family issues require to seek help without fear of stigma.
Are there particular skills and qualities that a school social worker should have to effectively promote student wellbeing?
For school social workers, essential qualities include patience, sensitivity, and positive thinking. Effective communication with various stakeholders including teachers, students and parents is key to balancing different perspectives and fostering collaboration.
To facilitate communication between schools and social workers, mutual trust and respect are paramount. Schools should prioritise early identification of students’ emotional problems and refer them to social workers who can provide targeted support.
How can schools collaborate with HKFYG to create a supportive, positive environment that fosters and encourages wellbeing?
In Hong Kong, schools can reach out through designated channels, easyschoolconnect.hk, for both primary and secondary services provided by our organisation. We offer a wide range of activities, including leadership training programmes tailored for both primary and secondary institutions.
Health and Wellness Services that may be of interest:
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Allied Health School Services Program – Parents workshop (90 mins)
In 2023, ISS and OST Therapy launched the Allied Health School Services Program. The AHSS team offers personalized workshops for parents, focusing on speech/language skills, cognitive play, behaviour management, and building resilience. These workshops provide practical strategies to help parents support their child’s development and create a positive home environment.
Caritas – Counselling Services
Caritas Human Empowerment & Achievement Training (HEAT) offers counseling for marital issues, extra-marital affairs, divorce, and marriage enrichment. Services include family mediation, sex therapy, support for family conflicts, and therapy for emotional, behavioural, and learning issues in children, as well as mood, stress, anxiety, and trauma.
Health & Wellbeing – Deck of cards
Dr. Christopher Willard’s mindfulness decks offer exercises for emotional well-being, including *Mindful Parenting*, *Self-Love*, and tools for teens to manage depression, anxiety, and build resilience. Each deck provides practical mindfulness strategies for emotional growth and mental health at every life stage.
Health & Wellbeing Videos
Unlock mindfulness and communication skills with expert-led courses. Topics include fostering positive family dialogue, boosting academic performance through mindfulness, and age-specific practices for preschoolers, primary students, and teens, promoting focus, emotional balance, and resilience.
iLiving: Initial 90-minute Consultation with Supported Healing for Children
iLiving is a holistic wellness centre that offers integrated services for personal transformation. They provide a comprehensive approach to address both physical and mental health, focusing on modalities like bioresonance, life coaching, family constellations, and more to help clients achieve optimal well-being. This consultation includes health scan of a child who is suffering from chronic physical or mental health challenge and coaching to their caretaker/parent(s).
KFBG Transformative and Mindfulness Forest Immersion Walk
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) delivers inspiring, awareness-shifting and transformative programmes with potential life-changing experiences. We offer an opportunity and a peaceful space in the natural environment of KFBG for participants to experience, to rethink, to identify and to be able to deeply connect and appreciate Gaia, our mother Earth, and the interconnection and interrelationship that we share with her. By being close to, and having a respect for nature, through our transformative workshops, people can experience a sense of deep happiness and spiritual contentment in which could facilitate a more holistic way of living.
Llegend – Diploma in Professional Aromatherapy
This aromatherapy course covers essential oils, anatomy, and therapeutic applications, combining theory and practice. Accredited by the IFA, it offers exemptions for the UK TQUK Level 4 Certificate. As Hong Kong’s leading college for aromatherapy, it boasts 7 international accreditations.
Therapy Services – 1 on 1 Offline Therapy Service
In 2023, ISS and OST Therapy launched the Allied Health School Services Program. Our certified speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists offer personalized therapy for speech, language, motor skills, emotional regulation, and self-care. We use evidence-based practices to support students’ academic and social growth, boosting confidence and promoting inclusive learning environments.
Wellbeing Books Series
Dr. Willard’s books blend mindfulness with practical approaches for families. Alphabreaths teaches kids mindfulness through ABC-themed breathing exercises, while Growing Up Mindful offers parents and educators tools to help children build resilience, self-awareness, and empathy through mindfulness.
