Walking with our children, treating every soul with tenderness

I am Chen Xi, President of the Hong Kong Children and Adolescents Mental Health Association. Having lived and worked both overseas and in mainland China, I have experienced two very different educational cultures and social contexts. Overseas schools and communities pay systematic attention to children’s emotional and psychological state; in Hong Kong, I often see children quietly bearing the weight of academic pressure, family expectations and social competition — with nowhere to speak of it.

As a parent, I know deeply that a child is not a number on a report card, but a living being with emotions, dreams, fragility and resilience. I have seen children unable to sleep from exam anxiety, and adolescents who withdraw into silence after being misunderstood. These are not issues that simply resolve with time — they call for early detection, active intervention and gentle companionship.

The mission of our Association is exactly that: “early detection, public knowledge and crisis prevention.” We do not wait for a child to break down. We build a safety net starting from everyday conversation, school programmes and parents’ awareness. We provide practical mental health resources, parent workshops and teacher training, and we work with community organisations so that support reaches schools, families and every corner where a child may feel alone.

We do not wait for a child to break down — we build a safety net starting from everyday conversation, school programmes and parents’ awareness.

We believe professionalism and warmth are not in conflict. Assessment and intervention grounded in scientific evidence — combined with respect for individual differences and an inclusive attitude — are what truly meet a child’s needs.

I invite you to walk this path with us. Whether you are a parent, teacher, social worker or simply a citizen who cares, your attention and action are a light in a child’s life. Let us stop asking only “What score did you get?” and ask instead “Are you happy today?” — and value a child’s heart, not only the report card.