Social connection and purpose are also vital for mental health
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I refer to the insightful letter, 'Suicide in Hong Kong: don't pit wellness measures against medical treatment' (
March 26 ), advocating for more holistic strategies to address youth mental health challenges in Hong Kong.
While the biopsychosocial model offers a valuable framework for understanding these complex issues, my experience navigating mental health challenges for more than a decade suggests that incorporating a spiritual dimension – resulting in a biopsychosocial-spiritual model – provides a more complete perspective essential for fostering genuine resilience and recovery among our youth.
Drawing upon this experience, I wish to highlight two factors crucial for implementing such a truly comprehensive approach.
First, when young people feel isolated by academic pressures and social anxieties, authentic peer relationships provide an invaluable source of non-judgmental understanding and validation from others navigating similar life stages.
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This form of support, distinct from formal interventions, constitutes an essential component of one's personal safety net, fostering belonging within their own community. Creating school and community environments conducive to such supportive peer connections is key to building resilience among our youth.
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