The Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres ("HKFWC"), founded in 1981, is a non-partisan and non-religious women's organization committed to addressing the living conditions of grassroots women and promoting gender equality while advocating for women's rights.
Since May 1981, HKFWC has provided the "Women's Helpline" service, the first helpline specifically designed for women in Hong Kong. Over the past 40 years, the Helpline has received over 5,000 cases annually, with the majority involving emotional distress, family relationships, and divorce laws. Every few years, we release service statistics and present recommendations based on the social issues and trends reflected in the calls received.
During a press conference, HKFWC released the statistics and analysis of "Women's Helpline" service data from April 2017 to March 2024. A Helpline caller and volunteer counsellor were invited to share their experiences. HKFWC commissioned Professor Stefan KÜHNER and Professor Ruby LAI Yuen-shan from the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University to analyse seven years of service data (a total of 11,054 calls) and examine the main issues faced by women seeking help and their relationship with mental health.
The background of service users
Over the past seven years, the call volume for the "Women's Helpline" reached its peak during the pandemic period (from 2020 to 2023), ranging from 1,681 to 1,805 calls per annum. The majority of the cases were from individuals aged 30 to 49 (57.4%), mainly married (53.1%), and had been married for more than 10 years (62.1%). Most of the cases had one or more children (58.7%), with the typical family having one child (30.7%) or two children (22.2%), and the children were generally under the age of 10. Homemakers (35.5%) or full-time/self-employed individuals (35%) were the most common employment status. In terms of education level, the majority had a secondary school education (57.9%). Over the past 7 years, there has been an upward trend in the age and education level of the Helpline callers.
Trends in Marriage and Interpersonal Relationships, Legal Issues, Life Problems, and Mental Health
In the area of marriage and interpersonal relationships, the most common cases received are related to spousal infidelity (14%) and problems with partner interactions (28.6%). From 2020-21 onwards, there has been a noticeable upward trend in issues with partner interactions, rising from 23% in 2019-20 to 33.8% in 2023-24. There have also been slight increases in cases related to spousal infidelity in Hong Kong (from 9.9% to 12.4%), parent-child communication/parenting problems (from 7.6% to 8.3%), in-law relationship issues (from 5.2% to 7%), and child abuse (from 1.1% to 1.7%).
In the legal domain, inquiries about divorce laws/procedures are the most common problems among case seekers, accounting for 41%. In terms of livelihood issues, economic problems/debts (15.5%), housing problems (14.1%), and family caregiving stress (7.3%) are the most frequently reported problems.
Regarding mental health, over a third of cases indicate feelings of emotional distress/tension, and there has been a significant increase in cases reporting low self-esteem, from 12.2% in 2017-18 to 22.1% in 2023-24. In 2023-24, there was a slight upward trend in cases reporting emotional/mental illnesses, reaching 12.2%.
Factors related to mental health
There is a significant relationship between a client's mental health and factors such as family relationships, marital and cohabitation relationships, domestic violence/stalking, various forms of abuse, and discrimination. Clients with legal issues related to domestic violence/stalking and sex discrimination/discrimination in family status are 1.5 to 2.88 times more likely to experience low self-esteem compared to other cases. Additionally, cases involving sexual issues, such as sexual assault (indecent assault/rape), sexual attitudes and knowledge, are more likely to experience low self-esteem. Clients with labour law issues and emotional problems/interpersonal relationships/being a third party have a clear relationship with emotional depression/mental stress. Clients with sexually transmitted disease-related problems are 4 times more likely to have emotional/mental health problems.
Factors related to divorce laws or procedures and issues with domestic violence or harassment laws
When a case involves a spouse having an extramarital affair locally or in Mainland China, the case is 4.5 times and 3.2 times more likely to inquire about divorce laws/procedures respectively. Cases with relationship problems with a partner or being abandoned by a spouse are also about 3 times more likely to inquire about divorce laws/procedures. Other important factors for inquiring about divorce laws/procedures include spouse's debt, housing issues, and abuse (physical/mental/sexual).
Factors related to economic, housing, and family caregiving stress issues
There is an increasing trend of cases involving housing issues and family caregiving stress. Housing issues have risen from 12.1% in 2017-18 to 16.5% in 2023-24, while family caregiving stress have increased from 7.3% to 11.7%. Cases with debt/bankruptcy legal issues, spouse's debt, and insufficient/no home expenses tend to reflect having economic/debt problems. When there are economic-related problems (debt, insufficient/no home expenses) and relationship problems (domestic violence, abuse), the chances of also facing housing issues are higher. Cases with family relationship problems, separation between Hong Kong and Mainland China, and parent-child communication/parenting issues are more likely to experience family caregiving stress.
Divorce combined with various factors can impact mental health
The analysis shows that divorce is not a direct factor impacting mental health. However, for cases with issues related to divorce laws/procedures, the risk of mental health issues is significantly higher when facing emotional problems, family caregiving stress, gynaecological/menopausal issues, economic problems, and abuse. Additionally, for cases with divorce law/procedure issues that also face labour law problems, the risk of suicidal ideation/attempts is 30.5 times higher.
Changes after the pandemic
The pandemic has impacted individuals' interpersonal relationships, economic and housing situations. Especially issues related to marriage and family, there has been an upward trend when compared between the pre-pandemic period (2019-20) and the peak of the pandemic (2023-24). Issues with partner relationships have seen a significant increase (up 10.8%), as well as family caregiving stress (up 5.4%), family relationships (up 3.9%), parent-child communication/parenting (up 2.9%), and in-law relationships (up 2.1%). Economic problems/debt (up 8.5%) and housing issues (up 2.5%) have also increased.
Service users' help-seeking orientation
The most often service offered by the "Women's Helpline" is emotional relief. During the reporting period, the provision of legal information services has shown an upward trend. Overall, service users are satisfied with the "Women's Helpline" service. Among them, cases seeking help for sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence/stalking, abuse, gynaecological/menopausal issues, or economic problems/debts tend to first seek assistance from other social service agencies/hotlines. Married cases, on the other hand, tend to directly seek help from HKFWC's "Women's Helpline".
Case sharing
May shared her experience of enduring domestic violence in her marriage over the years. From the early stages of her marriage, her ex-husband subjected her to emotional abuse, verbal abuse and threats, which later escalated to physical violence such as punching and kicking, and even threatening her with a knife. All of this happened in front of their children. It was not until May took refuge in a shelter that she was able to escape the abuse that had lasted for nine years.
May explained that she had endured the abuse for multiple reasons. Firstly, the responses from her ex-husband's family as well as her own family were deeply influenced by traditional norms, leading her to believe that she had to bear the consequences of her own choices and that a "good woman" should stand by her husband no matter what. She had also grown up in an environment of domestic violence, with her father as the abuser. In comparison, her ex-husband's violence was not as severe, which led her to believe that it was something she could tolerate, suppressing her urge to resist. Additionally, she was financially dependent on her husband, and leaving the family would have meant facing problems with economics, housing, emotions, social life, and childcare. Lastly, she lacked knowledge of the social resources available and did not know where to seek help, delaying her decision to divorce.
May encourages other women who are trapped in the cycle of domestic violence to bravely seek external assistance. "If I had known that there were organizations that could provide help, I wouldn't have had to endure so many years of suffering. My unfortunate marriage has caused so much pain for myself and my children, and it's not worth tolerating so much for the sake of the abuser. If society provided more support and care for divorced families, I believe women would have more confidence and courage to leave unhappy homes and live an independent life."
"Women's Helpline" volunteer counsellor sharing
Wai Yee has served as a volunteer counsellor on the "Women's Helpline" for over 20 years, answering many calls from women seeking assistance. She has deeply felt the transformation in these women before and after seeking help. "Like in May's case, the callers usually start off speaking softly, and then gradually raise their voice - it turns out they've been enduring it for a long time and finally have the chance to vent their emotions." Women seeking help often feel extremely desperate, and inferior, and have lost their appetite, with severe cases exhibiting symptoms of depression.
The helpline counsellors provide emotional relief, legal support, referrals to community resources, and support to enhance gender awareness. For emotional relief, Wai Yee points out that some women have no friends or family to confide in, or are afraid of their family's dirty laundry being aired publicly. Counsellors allow these women to vent their emotions and listen patiently.
For legal support, since women are generally unfamiliar with marriage-related laws, counselors will usually provide basic knowledge of matrimonial law, so the women can understand the legal procedures and rights involved in divorce, allowing them to make a comprehensive and informed decision.
Regarding community resources, Wai Yee says counsellors refer women to relevant services based on their situations. HKFWC also provide one-stop services, from initial telephone intervention to in-depth counselling, as well as free legal consultation and employment support, hoping to support the women in all aspects.
In terms of enhancing gender awareness, Wai Yee says "Women seeking help often have a lot of traditional mindsets, such as believing that only families with parents are complete. There's also a tendency to place the responsibility of marriage solely on women, thinking that if there are problems in the marriage, it must be because the woman didn't do a good enough job, even blaming the woman for the partner's infidelity. Divorced women are seen as failures." When the women's own family and friends do not accept their divorce, often urging them to just endure it, it makes it very difficult for them to make autonomous decisions about their marital problems. The counselors understand the influence of traditional concepts on these women, and reflect on these traditional family values together, reducing the negative impact of gender stereotyping, so the women can choose their path forward.
Our Suggestions:
Legal Empowerment
The data shows that the number of cases related to divorce laws/procedures and domestic violence/stalking has been increasing. There is a close relationship between these legal issues and mental health. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance women's awareness of the law and their rights. Through free legal consultation services and family law seminars, we can help women acquire basic legal knowledge and empower them legally.
Economic Empowerment
The data reflects that the majority of cases involve housewives, and when they face economic difficulties and family problems, it impacts their mental health. Under traditional social norms, the "men in charge of outside, women in charge of inside" gender division of labour makes women economically dependent on their husbands, often obstructing them from leaving families with domestic violence or other problematic home environments. Strengthening women's economic empowerment, and providing more diverse career planning, employment training, and entrepreneurship support, can allow them to be financially independent. This would give them more resources to address problems when crises arise.
Family-Friendly Workplace Measures for Carers
The report indicates that the stress on caregiving families has been on the rise in recent years, with many carers needing to balance work and caregiving responsibilities. Carer-friendly employment measures can help strike a balance between the two and alleviate the stress on carers. Employers can provide flexible working hours, breastfeeding facilities and measures, emergency childcare services, allow employees to bring their children to work in special circumstances, on-site childcare services, job sharing options, and unpaid leave for caregiving needs. The government can also increase community-based childcare services and enact legislation to introduce family caregiving leave. The government should also consider expanding carer allowance schemes and lowering the application thresholds to cover carers for various care recipients, including those caring for children, to recognize their contributions.
Strengthening Gender Education
The data indicates that individual cases are facing issues such as family and relationship problems, dealing with third-party relationships, domestic violence, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. According to the "Women's Quality of Life and Public’s Attitude toward Gender Equality in Hong Kong" survey research conducted by Professor Celia Chan Hoi-yan of HKU's Department of Social Work and Social Administration and her research team in collaboration with HKFWC in March 2024, the higher the gender equality awareness of women, the better their mental health and quality of life. When they are dealing with family or marital issues, they are often constrained by traditional norms, which affects their decision to seek help. These situations highlight the need to strengthen gender education, incorporate it into formal primary and secondary school curricula, cultivate gender awareness from a young age, increase self-awareness, and promote the participation of different genders in household chores so that caregiving responsibilities are no longer solely the responsibility of women.
Mental Health Support
The report emphasizes that cases are affected in their mental health due to family problems, interpersonal relationship issues, and economic pressures. To more effectively identify the mental health risks of women, we recommend that the government incorporate mental health assessments at District Health Centres, where professionals can provide basic care consultation and education. If necessary, these cases can be referred to local network doctors for further follow-up or specialist referrals. The aim is to identify women's mental health risks early on and ensure they receive appropriate treatment.