Latest news with #WeCARE
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Family happiness in Hong Kong rises but falls short of pre-pandemic levels
Family happiness in Hong Kong has improved for the first time in three years. However, it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Mental health experts are asking the government to develop family policies modelled after Singapore. is a concern group under Wofoo Social Enterprises. The group revealed that the family happiness index stood at 6.91 out of 10. It is an improvement from 6.43 last year but lower than the 7.26 in 2021. Families with children aged between six and 12 were the least happy. This could be because of stressful environments in primary schools, according to mental health experts. Daniel Shek Tan-lei from Polytechnic University explained that the rise in the index could be due to two reasons: the economy improving and families adapting to life after the pandemic. Shek also said that there is a need for better family policies in Hong Kong and mentioned Singapore as a model. The research gathered 1,117 questionnaires with 76 questions, using online and face-to-face interviews. About 66.8 per cent of respondents ranked their overall family happiness as seven or higher, up from 55.7 per cent last year.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Family happiness in Hong Kong has risen but still falls short of pre-pandemic levels
Family happiness in Hong Kong has improved for the first time in three years. However, it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Mental health experts are asking the government to develop family policies modelled after Singapore. is a concern group under Wofoo Social Enterprises. The group revealed that the family happiness index stood at 6.91 out of 10. It is an improvement from 6.43 last year but lower than the 7.26 in 2021. Families with children aged between six and 12 were the least happy. This could be because of stressful environments in primary schools, according to mental health experts.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must not ignore burden of primary school pupils and families
May is Mental Health Awareness month. For Hong Kong, where stress is almost a given, it is good to see the results of the annual happiness survey conducted by HK. WeCARE, a concern group under Wofoo Social Enterprises. It revealed that the city's family happiness index score had improved for the first time in three years. Advertisement This is encouraging. Hong Kong families scored 6.91 out of 10 on the happiness index, up from 6.43 last year. According to Daniel Shek Tan-lei, a former chairman of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau's Family Council and current associate vice-president of Polytechnic University, there are two likely reasons for the improvement: the economy is picking up and families are adapting to post-pandemic life. The survey findings were not entirely positive, though. The family happiness index score was still lower than the 7.26 recorded in 2021 . One of most important insights was that families with children aged six to 12 were the least happy, which could be attributed to stressful environments in primary schools, according to mental health experts. The stress starts young in this city, but the survey highlights how the academic stress in primary schools affects both a child and their family. The story is a familiar one for many of us. The hurdles we set for children are high, starting with primary school admissions As a parent, I can relate to the intense stress involved in that process. It is easy to understand why getting children into what are called 'through-train' schools, where students do not need to go through the admissions process again for secondary school, is so desired and thus more competitive. But whether getting into these schools means less stress during primary school is another matter and, from what we have seen – especially in elite schools – the academic demands for excellence are not for the faint-hearted. Daniel Shek speaks at a press conference announcing the results of this year's Hong Kong Family Happiness Index, on May 15. Photo: Elson Li Those whose children are not attending 'through-train' schools know they must push them to be top performers to get into leading secondary schools. In some cases, that means getting their children into the top class in the school. It's not hard to imagine the sort of stress that puts on the family.
Skift
05-05-2025
- Health
- Skift
6 Ways to Help Attendees With Invisible Disabilities
More than 1 in 4 Americans have some sort of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though some might not be visible to others, they can still be debilitating. For people with these 'invisible' disabilities, from dementia to depression to neurodivergent disorders (including autism and ADD), the hectic nature of a meeting presents a unique set of challenges. Planners need to be prepared to offer them peaceful spaces, support, and off–ramps if needed. Here are 6 things you can do: 1. Provide Training for Your Team WeCARE Psychological Safety Training equips teams with peer support training. Event organizers empower a designated group of individuals to provide empathetic, non-judgmental support to attendees during an event. 2. Ask About Special Requirements at Registration Use language that is sensitive and inclusive. For example, instead of "Do you have any mental health conditions?" ask 'Are there any aspects of your well-being that we should be aware of to ensure your comfort and safety?' 3. Offer Safe Spaces One of the significant barriers for many invisible disabilities is sensitivity to overstimulation. Many meeting organizers are adding calm rooms, dedicated spaces designed to provide a sensory break for attendees. 4. Bring Attendees Together Being alone in a strange city can lead to feelings of isolation and even panic. One way to help is to organize new attendee events, buddy systems, and structured networking sessions and social activities for people to connect if they are feeling alone. 5. Make Sure Attendees Know About Your Support Services It's important to let attendees know that there is support available if needed through emails and other meeting communications, such as the conference program or the app. 6. Know What to Do in an Emergency If there is an immediate crisis where someone is in danger, call 911 and have the attendee taken to an emergency room. If the situation is not life-threatening, help him or her connect with resources such as the 988 Lifeline or the Crisis Text Line. (Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States. The service is free, confidential and available 24/7.) The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower was created to encourage inclusivity, acceptance, and understanding. People choose to wear a sunflower to share that they have a hidden disability, or might need extra help, understanding, or just more time, and carry a personalized Sunflower card listing the kinds of help they need. Sunflower 'advocates' can choose to wear badges, lanyards, or other signage to demonstrate their support for those who may have a non-visible disability. Since its launch in 2016, businesses from every sector, including travel and tourism, have joined the global Sunflower network in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Latin America, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.K., the UAE, and the U.S.
