隨着本港學童上網時間不斷攀升，兒童的身心健康風險亦日益浮現。香港大學賽馬會防止自殺研究中心總監葉兆輝（6日）在一個電台節目表示，本港學童的上網娛樂時間持續增加，增加他們面臨網絡欺凌、接觸不良資訊、遊戲成癮等多重風險。港大醫學院兒童及青少年科學系臨床教授葉柏強則指，兒童長時間接觸電子產品，會造成視力惡化，將來或會提早出現視網膜脫落或黃斑病變等問題。

A recent spate of student suicides in Hong Kong has reignited public anguish and concern over the mental well-being of the city’s youth, especially with regard to a possible contagious or copycat effect. As chairman of the 2016 government-appointed student suicide prevention committee, I am compelled to revisit our findings and call for urgent collective action to contain any likely spread.

The number of babies born in Hong Kong reached 36,700 last year, an 11 per cent jump from 2023, following the introduction of a government scheme that gives parents a HK$20,000 (US$2,570) cash handout for each newborn. The number of births grew for the second year in a row after an uptick in 2023. Still, the level was the third-lowest since data was first made available in 1961.

Hong Kong’s population expanded for the third consecutive year, albeit at a slower pace, to 7.534 million last year, an uptick of 6,400.

香港華人基督教聯會廣蔭頤養院與香港大學社會工作及社會行政學系1月15日合辦「安老院舍靈安晚期照顧服務」新聞發佈會，響應政府新政策，為希望在熟悉環境中安詳離世的長者提供支持。隨著長者人口增加，致力改善靈安照顧質素，保障他們的尊嚴與平安。

關注性小眾團體「真光社」聯同中文大學及香港大學發佈兩項研究報告，30.8%受訪者出現中度至嚴重抑鬱症狀，24%出現中度至嚴重焦慮症狀，比例顯著高於社會整體水平，在近7年間未見改善。

獲委任成為特首政策組專家組成員的港大社會工作及社會行政學系教授林一星，形容自己是怕悶的人。大學讀經濟，對數字敏感，卻沒投進金融界大展拳腳，而是轉跑道做社工，考取獎學金到美國攻讀博士，回港參與安老研究項目，包括在港制定長期護理的評估工具和配對公式，以及將「錢跟人走」的概念引入社區照顧，讓象牙塔內的研究得以落地，為社會帶來改變。

Social work expert Vivian Lou Weiqun said the rise in one-person households in Hong Kong is a significant factor contributing to the city’s declining birth rate.

政府正計劃檢討2元乘車優惠。香港大學社會工作及社會行政學系榮休教授周永新今(27日)在《明報》撰文，建議對長者的2元乘車優惠設限，規定60至65歲以下的長者，每人每月的優惠限額為700元。他又指，徹底的辦法是將門檻恢復至65歲及以上，但強調無論如何調整，65歲或以上的市民享有的2元交通優惠不應改變。

有研究隱蔽議題的學者估計，十年前香港至少約有一萬七千至四萬名，12至29歲的青少年曾經有隱蔽行為，過往三年疫情，估計數字已進一步攀升；究竟年輕人為何不上學？空凳背後又有甚麼故事？

香港華人基督教聯會廣蔭頤養院等機構於12月4日在香港大學舉辦靈安晚期照顧研討會2024，吸引超過400位專職及管理職系同工參與，探討靈性在晚期照顧中的重要角色，提升長者晚期生活品質。

全球都面對低生育率和老齡化問題，香港家庭計劃指導會(家計會)和國際計劃生育聯合會東亞及東南亞與海洋分區(國際計生聯)於本周一(11日)至今日(13日)合辦的3天研討會，今次在香港舉行的研討會吸引了10個國際計生聯會員機構的參與者，分別來自中國、越南、馬來西亞、泰國、老撾、澳洲、薩摩亞、斐濟、百慕達和香港。與會者就生育與老齡化相關議題進行了深入討論，分享了各自的經驗，並從性與生殖健康及權利的角度集思廣益，尋找創新解決方案。

香港能仁專上學院日前發布一項學童自殺調查，該院教授、生命教育中心主任謝向榮稱學童「多想社會責任、家長期望」便不會「做傻事」，又建議師生到訪農莊，「睇下啲雞仔孵化，就唔會做傻事」。言論引起廣泛批評，其中由社工系學生組成的關注學童自殺學生聯席，昨日強烈批評有關言論不當，謝向榮昨晚就言論致歉。

When a Hong Kong woman found herself unexpectedly pregnant and facing unemployment with little savings in late 2023, she did not fully anticipate how hard life was about to get.

A cross-institutional team led by professors from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has been recognised in the “Collaborative Teams” category of the 2024 UGC Teaching Award for their exceptional contributions to teaching and learning.

The team, known as Holistic Competency and Virtues Education (HAVE), was led by Professor Cecilia Chan, Founding Director of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre and Professor in the Faculty of Education, with Professor Samson Tse, Dean of Student Affairs and Professor in Mental Health, HKU, Professor Albert Ko Wing-yin, Director of Service-Learning, Lingnan University, Professor Ben Chan Yui-bun, Associate Dean of Students and Associate Director, Center for Engineering Education Innovation, the Hong Kong University Science and Technology, and Dr Theresa Kwong Fuk-ning, Director, Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning, Hong Kong Baptist University as team members.

The goal of HAVE is to cultivate visible competencies in students, enabling them to thrive in an ever-changing world beyond their disciplines. Key competencies include leadership, teamwork, communication, lifelong learning, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, professional ethics, resilience, and self-awareness. Despite their significance, higher education remains largely focused on disciplinary or professional knowledge, leaving a critical gap in students’ overall development. The HAVE project tackles this pressing issue head-on.

Professor Cecilia Chan feels honoured to be bestowed with the award. She said: “I am delighted to receive this prestigious award. This award acknowledges that our work is important and helps us establish a strong foundation to encourage more students and teachers to recognise the importance of holistic competencies. It would be great if we can create a ripple effect through this award. As a mother of three, I would be disappointed if my children grew up without developing and embodying these humane competencies—particularly integrity, appreciation, and resilience.”

Professor Samson Tse highlights the importance of the project, stating, “In this new era of artificial intelligence and an increasingly volatile world, university education must transcend the mere transfer of knowledge. We urgently need to focus on developing competencies for everyday life and the workplace, while also fostering essential virtues. As the Dean of Student Affairs and a University Professor, I sincerely hope that the elements covered in the HAVE programme — such as critical thinking, effective communication skills, civic-mindedness, virtue and mental resilience — are deeply embedded in our educational policies, curricula, and campus experiences, rather than being confined to narrow, isolated learning opportunities.”

The UGC Teaching Award recognises outstanding teaching performance, achievements, leadership, and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and across universities at UGC-funded institutions.

Link: https://hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/27776.html

樂施會早前公布香港貧窮狀況報告，指今年第一季有超過139萬人處於貧窮狀態，貧窮率為兩成，貧富差距在疫情後再擴大。

港大社會工作及社會行政學系講座教授葉兆輝在商台節目表示，本港貧窮問題是由於人口增加、人口老化及有更多離婚家庭，面對經濟轉型，以往只有部分地區較貧窮，但最新數據顯示，貧窮情況「遍地開花」，擴展到更多地區。他稱疫情後有更多低技術工人失業或開工不足，當局需要研究為低技術工人提供再培訓和就業機會，並改善整體經濟。

Poverty has spread across Hong Kong and is no longer only concentrated in some older districts, a population health expert has warned, urging the authorities to reintroduce the official poverty line and mobilise the public to help tackle the problem together.

育有SEN（Special Education Need）子女的父親深受華人文化的父權觀念影響，容易產生負面情緒，影響子女成長。香港大學（港大）社會工作及社會行政學系今日（2日）發表全港首個「父親道德情緒及參與照顧特殊需要子女的需求調查」，以提升社會對男士情緒健康需要的關注，及早制定應對方案。

A government mechanism designed to help Hong Kong children at risk of suicide should offer more diagnostic support and streamline its procedures, experts have said, a day after the city’s leader called for improvements.