HKFYG’s back-to-school survey reveals rising anxiety and steady stress levels among secondary students, alongside low help-seeking intentions
English Summary
- A new survey released today (14 October) by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG)’s counselling services has found heightened anxiety levels among secondary students as the new school year begins.
Key findings
- Average stress levels stood at 5.9 out of 10 – slightly lower than last year’s 6.1 – yet 42.6% of students reported high stress (7-10 points). Nearly two-thirds (62.7%) said they felt “not excited for school,” citing curriculum and coursework (63.2%), sleep and health (55.3%) and relationships and belonging (37.8%) as the main reasons.
- Over one in four students (27.8%) reported mild to severe anxiety, with an average score of 25.4 – an increase from 2022’s 24.9 and 2020’s 24.1 – marking a five-year high. The trend reflects a rising number of students experiencing mild anxiety symptoms. Anxiety levels also rose by grade level, from 23.6 in Form 1 to 27.8 in Form 6.
- The survey was conducted online in September by HKFYG’s counselling services using convenience sampling. 5,551 Secondary 1 to 6 students participated in the survey, assessing their stress, anxiety and adaptability with reference to the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). While the scale is not a diagnostic tool, it provides insight into self-reported anxiety symptoms that warrant attention.
Anxiety, stress and adaptation
- Over half of students reported anxiety symptoms such as “feeling more tense and nervous than usual” (83.4%), “feeling easily agitated or panicked” (73.0%) and “feeling easily drained and fatigued” (66.9%) – the top three sources of anxiety in 2020 and 2022 – highlighting concerns for mental and physical health.
- Academic issues remained the top sources of concern for the fifth consecutive year, led by “declining grades” (43.0%), “lack of learning motivation” (36.7%) and “heavy workload of homework and assessments” (34.8%).
- Despite stress, most students appeared to adapt well. 94.0% always or often attended classes punctually, 87.9% submitted assignments on time, and 81.3% stayed focused in class. However, they showed low help-seeking intentions: 59.6% rarely or never sought support, and 65.4% had never reached out to any individual or organisation.
Support services for students
- The “Shall We Walk · Shall We Talk” wellness platform under HKFYG’s counselling services handled 25,842 emotion-related cases between September 2024 and September 2025 – a sharp rise from 18,920 the previous year. Of these, 11,509 were school-related, including 5,510 from secondary students, and 2,086 were online cases, concerning academic pressure, peer relationships and mental health.
- Cases included students adapting to English-medium schools, suffering from anxiety disorders or panic attacks, struggling with the curriculum or subject selection, and balancing DSE preparation with extracurricular demands.
- Many reported feelings of anxiety, panic, academic stress and social isolation, as well as perfectionist tendencies, fear of judgment and hesitation to burden others with their problems.
Implications and recommendations
- “Anxiety symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness and tiredness are common among students adjusting to the new school term,” said Andy Ying-kit Chan, Supervisor of the HKFYG. “Students should monitor their mental and physical health and seek professional support via school social workers, hotline or online counselling platforms if symptoms like palpitations, headaches and insomnia persist for over a month.”
- The survey also found that over half of students are reluctant to seek help, complicating early identification and intervention. Chan urged schools to proactively support students’ mental health through screening and monitoring, especially those struggling with lessons, homework or peer relationships.
- Chan further advised parents to focus on their children’s emotional well-being and social connections rather than purely on academic achievement. “Parents can set aside time each week for relaxation and bonding. If anxiety symptoms do persist, timely professional intervention is essential,” he added.
HKFYG’s support services
- To better support students with school adjustment issues, the HKFYG has launched the “School Adjustment Support Scheme” under the “Shall We Walk · Shall We Talk” platform, offering one-stop hotline (2777 8899), text and in-person counselling options for academic, family, social and emotional needs.
- The Scheme also provides schools with resources and training for mental health support, including school-based mental health screening, holistic wellness programmes and gatekeeper training for early detection.
- To further promote a peer support culture within secondary schools, the platform has introduced a new student proposal competition, encouraging students to design mental health awareness initiatives.
For media enquiries, please contact:
HKFYG Corporate Communications Office
Ms Miranda Ho Tel: 3755 7044
Ms Michelle Leung Tel: 3755 7011