Mr. Cheng Chi Kong, Professor Lawrence Lam, Dr. Ho Chi Wing, Mr. Vincent Wong. (From left to right)
The Macau Mental Health Survey 2024, co-organized by the Faculty of Medicine at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Mental Health Association Hong Kong Macau (MHAHKM), has been completed. The results were presented at a press conference on October 4, 2024.
Professor Lawrence Lam, Postgraduate Program Director of the Faculty of Medicine at MUST, reported the survey results alongside Mr. Cheng Chi Kong, CEO of MHAHKM, Psychiatric Specialist Dr. Ho Chi Wing, and Chief Consultant in Industrial Training at MHAHKM, Mr. Vincent Wong. Professor Lam revealed that 35.9% of younger Macau residents (aged 18-34) exhibited a moderate to high risk of depression, compared to 19.4% of those aged 35 and older. Similar trends were observed for anxiety, with 25.2% of younger residents and 14.9% of older residents affected.
The survey, conducted between April and July 2024 by Professor Lam’s team, included Ms. U Ka Ian and Ms. Zhang Jingyu, students in the Master of Public Health and Master of Nursing programs at the Faculty of Medicine. Nearly 1,500 participants were recruited through community and professional associations in Macau, with 23 associations representing various industries and sectors of the population. The results indicated that 27% of respondents had a moderate to high risk of depression, and 19% had a moderate to high risk of anxiety. The main sources of stress were work-related issues, followed by family, financial situations, and health concerns. More than half of the respondents had no intention of seeking professional help, citing the ability to handle problems alone and a lack of time as the most common reasons. Professor Lam emphasized that this lack of help-seeking intention is concerning.
Ms U Ka Ian, Professor Lawrence Lam, Ms Zhang Jingyu, Ms Mo Yijun. (From left to right)
Additionally, Professor Lam found that friends and family members are the "first port of call" for respondents seeking help. This underscores the need to enhance the mental health literacy of the general public to achieve early identification and intervention, ultimately improving the overall mental health status of Macau’s population. He also suggested that regular surveys are essential for monitoring the mental health status of Macau residents.
