“Hong Kong has been under siege for so long and it’s draining”: an interview with Brenda Scofield

[Reposted from February 27, 2020]

Written by Nicole Tan

First the protests, now the Covid-19 outbreak: for almost a year now, Hong Kong has been hit with incident after incident that has disrupted residents’ everyday lives. This prolonged period of unrest has had a significant impact on mental health, which makes organizations such as The Samaritans Hong Kong, a 24-hour multilingual suicide prevention hotline, so much more important. Brenda Scofield, a former teacher and the chairman of the Samaritans, shares her thoughts on the current situation in Hong Kong.

How has the coronavirus outbreak impacted you personally?

I’ve had to calm family members living outside Hong Kong who read frightening reports in the media. Also, since the work of the Samaritans cannot be done from home, we still have to be in the center 24 hours a day.

Have there been any general trends that the Samaritans center has noticed with the protests and the current Covid-19 outbreak?

The protests made a huge impact on the well-being of Hong Kong people and this was reflected in the calls we received — worried parents whose children were at the protests, older people who were worried about getting out to buy food, young people who were worried about their futures and saw them as bleak. Everyone was affected. Even if the initial topic of conversation was not about the protests, it often turned in that direction because people are living with uncertainty and, oftentimes, confusing feelings.

The coronavirus continues that feeling of fear except that now, people are all concerned about a perceived change in people’s attitudes. Panic buying has made people feel that they have to be more aggressive and many older callers have complained about this attitude in shops; they find it hard to deal with. There’s a general feeling of, “Whatever will hit us next?” Hong Kong has been under siege for so long and it’s draining. The freedom of life in Hong Kong has changed and there has been a self-imposed restriction of movement and socialization for many reasons.

What do you think are some challenges that residents in areas impacted by the coronavirus are facing in terms of their mental health? How do you think that they can combat these and continue taking care of their wellbeing?

At a time when social interaction is being curtailed for fear of the virus spreading, we are losing one of the ways in which people generally find comfort: through family and friends. This is evident in Hong Kong people especially. It seems important to use a sensible filter when reading the many sources of information about the virus, to try to stay calm and to consult credible sources. Of course, keeping in touch with friends and family by phone or FaceTime can help. Mental health often depends on finding something to really enjoy — pleasure is important. I notice so many more people out walking now, finding exercise and enjoyment at the same time. It’s well accepted that greenery is calming, and Hong Kong has good parks and access to the countryside. If a person is housebound, then finding pleasure in reading, listening to music, or engaging in something as simple as a puzzle can be helpful. Trying to leave the world of the coronavirus and temporarily escape to something pleasurable is a really good idea.

Do you have any specific advice for young people (i.e. students)?

Young people are impacted by the closure of schools. It’s natural that after the initial pleasure of not having to go to school, those who are near examinations or tests will begin to worry about their preparation. Most schools are working online and this means that students have to be self-disciplined — not always easy! Completing assignments on time will keep students focused… Let’s remember that this will pass, like many other troubles that Hong Kong has faced. Students are in a system and there are people whose job it is to help them through this temporary rough patch. Luckily, there are many ways to get help with work and compare your ideas with fellow students. Remember the importance of exercise and just getting out into the fresh air, too. If you need to, speak to someone you trust about your concerns. It’s a tough time for everybody and sharing your concerns is a good thing.

Is there anything you would like people to know about Samaritan’s role during these times of uncertainty? How can people get involved?

The Samaritans are there to listen without any judgment; this takes a lot of training of course and a good amount of life experience. Our special phone system ensures that no callers can be traced as part of our confidentiality rule. We can only accept people for training after 21 years of age, but we are active in visiting schools and universities to explain our service and to seek support. We also have a program that trains young people to be first responders in an age-appropriate way, and how to listen and respond. Of course, anything like the Samaritans, which handles 30,000 calls a year, needs financial help. Every dollar raised is well-used. We need to be well known, to have people think of us as first responders when there seems to be nowhere else to turn.

Samaritans 24-Hour Suicide Hotline: +852 2896 0000

Learn more about Samaritans Hong Kong at samaritans.org.hk.