Dr. Andrew Adler

921 - Number of suicides in year 2015-16 in Hong Kong.

1.7 million - Estimated number of Hong Kongers experiencing a mental health difficulty.

166 weeks - longest waiting time for psychiatric patients (among the seven Hong Kong hospital districts) to access mental health care in a public hospital.

330 – number of psychiatrists working in the public sector in Hong Kong. The patient-doctor ratio in Hong Kong is about 4.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. The United Kingdom has 14.63 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, and Australia has 9.16 psychiatrists per 100,000 (WHO, 2014).

1 in 6 – number of Hong Kong residents who have a common mental disorder, like anxiety or depression, either now or will in his or her lifetime (Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey, 2014).

60% - Number of Hong Konger’s that report experiencing stress and anxiety related to their job (MHA survey, 2014).

300 million - number of people who experience depression globally. It is a very common mental health problem.

15% - percentage of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder.

No. 2 - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year old worldwide.

47.5 million - Number of people worldwide who have dementia (and there are 7.7 million new cases every year).

With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun.

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.