FWD Hong Kong forms partnerships with non-profit organisations to raise awareness on mental health and foster “peer support” culture among the youth.
Youth mental health is one of the most widely discussed social issues in Hong Kong. KELY Support Group’s recent “Youth Mental Health Survey” revealed that over 20% of surveyed secondary school students felt overwhelmed by stress and emotions, while more than 30% were unable to seek help when facing mental health challenges. This underscores the need for mental health support for youth. In response, FWD Hong Kong (“FWD”) has collaborated with two non-profit organisations, KELY Support Group and Junior Achievement Hong Kong, to provide mental health education and support, including “Talk2Me Peer Supporter Training Certificate Programme” and “JA SparktheDream Wellness Workshop”, which aim to raise awareness on mental health and foster “peer support” culture among primary and secondary students in Hong Kong.
The youth feel helpless in the face of mental health crisis
Between September 2024 and January 2025, KELY Support Group surveyed 1,273 Hong Kong secondary school students aged 13 to 18. The findings revealed significant challenges in mental health and emotional management among youth. Key issues include:
- Overwhelmed by stress and emotions: 23% of students reported that they are constantly overwhelmed by stress and emotions, skewing higher for female students by 5% than male students.
- Lack of confidence: 22% of students responded, “I can’t do anything right” and “There are more things I don’t like about myself than I like”. Furthermore, 63% of students expressed lacking hope about their future.
- Difficulty in seeking help: a significant 32% of students indicated that they cannot find suitable ways to seek help when upset or overwhelmed.
- Insufficient peer support: around 25% of students reported that they do not have friends or peers that can be trusted.
These statistics show that youth frequently feel isolated and helpless when confronting mental health challenges, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen mental health support services for the youth.
Paul Tse, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of FWD Hong Kong and Macau, said, “FWD has always been committed to serving the community through meaningful projects and encouraging the public to care for their mental health. We hope that today’s youth, as the future of Hong Kong, can celebrate living and grow up happily. As we fund the launch of mental health-related programmes in collaboration with KELY Support Group and Junior Achievement Hong Kong, we hope to equip primary and secondary school students with skills to manage stress, cultivate positive thinking, and offer peer support. This aligns with FWD’s commitment to promoting early detection of mental health challenges while providing professional and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation by incorporating mental health protection into our products and services.”
FWD collaborates with community partners to promote mental health education, engaging nearly 1,000 students and 100 volunteers
FWD joined hands with KELY Support Group to launch the “Talk2Me Peer Supporter Training Certificate Programme”. Through a 10-hour training, the programme educates secondary school students on self-awareness and self-care, equipping them with skills to manage stress and provide peer support. Throughout the past year, the programme successfully trained approximately 80 secondary school students. FWD volunteers participated as mentors and collaborated with students to design community projects to support peers in need. Last year, FWD served as the platinum sponsor of Weez Walk 2024 and engaged its employees to participate and raise funds for youth mental health programmes. This provided a foundation to foster a closer collaboration with KELY Support Group.
In addition, since 2022, FWD has partnered with Junior Achievement Hong Kong to launch the “JA SparktheDream programme” to nurture financial literacy among primary school students. To date, the programme has benefited over 6,600 primary school students. This year, the partnership has expanded with the introduction of “JA SparktheDream Wellness Workshop”. The workshop integrates social and emotional learning to help primary school students build resilience in both financial well-being and mental health, empowering them to pursue their dreams. The initiative aims to benefit around 900 primary four to six students by 2025. FWD volunteers will lead group activities and discussions, teaching students about financial management skills and tackling life challenges with positive thinking and empathy.
Being the pioneer in integrating mental health coverage into medical insurance, FWD launched in 2022 the market-first mental health insurance “Mind Strength Protection Plan”. Additionally, the company has incorporated various mental health coverage and support services into selected medical and critical illness insurance plans, encouraging the public to proactively safeguard their mental and physical well-being.
