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Edith Lin

As many as two-thirds of 158 subdivided housing tenants supported by an NGO in Hong Kong have shown signs of anxiety or depression, highlighting calls for stronger counselling and social support.
The Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service (KTMSS) said on Thursday that it had served 158 families living in subdivided flats in the district in 2024-25, about half of whom had at least one child with special educational needs.
The households had an average monthly income of about HK$15,350 (US$1,960), with about 40 per cent going towards rent.
According to the survey, 66 per cent of respondents showed signs of anxiety. Among that group, about 37 per cent displayed moderate or severe symptoms.
About 40 per cent showed signs of depression, with nearly half of them experiencing moderate or severe levels.
The centre, which provides “trauma-informed care” and comprehensive family support, further assessed 55 respondents with moderate anxiety or depression and found their mental health indicators improved after a one-year intervention.
Across indicators including anxiety, depression, parental stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and resilience, about 7 per cent showed improvement in at least four areas, while around 80 per cent improved in at least one.

Under the model, which assumes that everyone may have experienced trauma, the centre offers targeted help to families, such as children’s playgroups, health classes, medical subsidies, family activities and counselling services.
Fifteen respondents, who were selected for qualitative research, said their trauma stemmed from cramped living conditions, parental stress and a lack of social support.
They also later reported improvements in their sense of security, social connections, awareness of mental health needs and family relationships.
One of them is Miko Yu, 31, who showed signs of anxiety and depression while living in an 80 sq ft subdivided flat with her husband and their now six-year-old daughter.
“I was the breadwinner of the family. I was very anxious because of our financial situation, while worrying that my husband could not take good care of our daughter,” Yu said. “I got irritated easily.”
She added that her child was later diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a kind of rheumatism, prompting her to quit her full-time job to better take care of her.

The centre later helped the family move to a 196 sq ft home under the transitional housing programme, while Yu also became more aware of her mental health and improved her relationship with her daughter.
“I realised I was quite strict with my daughter and tended to be condescending … I realised that when I am gentle, my daughter is more willing to share,” she said.
“We should all face our emotions. We should accept and deal with them, and love ourselves, before we can love our family.”
The centre urged the government to incorporate the model into broader social services.
“The government can subsidise professional bodies to provide trauma-informed care guidelines and training for the social welfare, education and medical sectors, enhancing sensitivity to trauma and helping create safe spaces,” said Catlyn Ho Yu-ying, the centre’s service coordinator.
She added that trauma-informed care was only effective when people felt secure in their daily lives, stressing the importance of social support.
Ho also called for increased public housing supply, medical subsidies for children with special educational needs and greater support for underprivileged groups.


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As many as two-thirds of 158 subdivided housing tenants supported by an NGO in Hong Kong have shown signs of anxiety or depression. Photo: Sun Yeung

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Miko Yu and her family have moved into transitional housing. Photo: Karma Lo

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Ownership of Yee Wa Building in Cheung Sha Wan recently changed hands. Photo: Eugene Lee

 Ng Yim-sun says most of the neighbouring rooms are already vacant. Photo Eugene Lee

The building was constructed in 1963 with 66 flats. Photo: Eugene Lee

An elderly tenant in his subdivided flat at Yee Wa Building in Cheung Sha Wan. Housing authorities say 40 households that faced evictions last year are still living there. Photo: Eugene Lee

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NGO survey reveals 40 per cent of earnings go to rent as families struggle to raise children with special needs in cramped flats


NGO survey reveals 40 per cent of earnings go to rent as families struggle to raise children with special needs in cramped flats.


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Anxiety, depression plague up to 66% of Hong Kong subdivided flat tenants: NGO

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}NGO survey reveals 40 per cent of earnings go to rent as families struggle to raise children with special needs in cramped flats

NGO survey reveals 40 per cent of earnings go to rent as families struggle to raise children with special needs in cramped flats