Social stigma of seeking therapeutic help still prevalent in China, says expert

Record ID: 1857384

  • Title: Social stigma of seeking therapeutic help still prevalent in China, says expert
  • Date: 19th November 2024
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 18, 2024) (REUTERS)
 (SOUNDBITE) (English) PSYCHOTHERAPIST, SAMI WONG, SAYING: “I think after the pandemic, different governments are already becoming very aware of all the mental challenges that arise from the pandemic, especially with the trauma they experienced. So I believe that the system has been supportive enough and continue to be very supportive. But what's really lacking right now is really this education of how important emotional well-being is to us. And I believe that a lot of people are still kind of having this social stigma of seeking therapeutic help. So even though the resources are there, they're very reluctant to use it. So I believe that psycho-education is really the fundamental step that we need to consider before providing more service that nobody will actually come and use.” ZHUHAI, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (NOVEMBER 12, 2024) (REUTERS)
 MAN LAYING DOWN FLOWERS AT FLORAL TRIBUTE ON FLOOR RESIDENT LAYING DOWN FLOWERS VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS LIGHTING CANDLES AND PUTTING THEM DOWN NEXT TO FLORAL TRIBUTES VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS LIGHTING JOSS STICKS AND CANDLES FLORAL TRIBUTES AND CANDLES / RESIDENTS LAYING CANDLES HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 18, 2024) (REUTERS)
 (SOUNDBITE) (English) PSYCHOTHERAPIST, SAMI WONG, SAYING: “So yes, being open-minded to these kinds of service and support is really the positive sign of our younger generation. But I believe that it's very important to bridge the gap between the younger generation and the older generation. So the younger generation will be able to support the older generation to become more receptive towards mental health support and that service that are available to them already.”
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2024 06:50
  • Keywords: China crime expert rampage stabbing
  • Location: HONG KONG, ZHUHAI, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, YIXING, WUXI CITY, JIANGSU PROVINCE, CHINA
  • City: HONG KONG, ZHUHAI, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, YIXING, WUXI CITY, JIANGSU PROVINCE, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA005074619112024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: In the wake of a spate of mass attacks in China that saw two car ramming incidents and multiple knife attacks throughout the year, psychotherapist Sami Wong on Monday (November 18) emphasized the complicated challenges people face in the aftermath of such incidents.
    Wong also pointed out the need for greater psycho-education to combat the stigma around seeking mental health support. Despite available resources, many are reluctant to use them due to societal attitudes.
    In the most recent attack, a driver in an SUV ploughed into students and pedestrians outside a primary school in southern China on Tuesday (November 19), leaving several people injured, state media said, as worries spread over a spate of violent attacks in the country over the past week.
    The incident happened just over a week after a driver rammed his vehicle into a crowd at a sports centre in Zhuhai in southern China, killing 35 people and severely injuring 43 in the deadliest mass attack in China in a decade.
    (Production: Joyce Zhou, Fabian Hamacher)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register