Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

Classes at all schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong have been suspended since early of February, when the novel coronavirus outbreak spread to Hong Kong. Government and school authorities have since been uncertain about the schedule of the annual DSE exams, a set of public exams which students prepare for three years. This uncertainty has put extra pressure on exam candidates and their parents during an already stressful time.

Although the authorities recently announced that the DSE exams will begin on 24 April, there is still a chance that they could be postponed should the local outbreak situation worsen – creating extra confusion and uncertainty for the candidates. Ms Yuen Shuk Yee, a registered social worker at the YMCA’s School Social Work Department elaborates: “Joining group preparation classes and taking mock exams several months before the DSE exams are common practices for DSE candidates. However, none of these activities have occurred for this year’s candidates. Due to the outbreak, students have been forced to study at home without support from their peers, schools and teachers, which left them feeling helpless and lonely.”

Although some schools are offering online learning for DSE candidates, having to face this level of academic stress, coupled with fears of becoming infected with the coronavirus or running short on daily necessities, the stress levels of candidates are at an all-time high. Ms Yuen continues, saying “students’ emotions are on a rollercoaster, since the exam dates are uncertain and may still be subject to change because of the virus. Meanwhile, some parents are questioning the effectiveness of self-learning, putting even further pressure on students.”

Candidates under severe pressure are experiencing physical and psychological signs of stress, including insomnia, stomach aches and headaches. Parents with overly high expectations of their children, who constantly inquire about or intervene in their child’s learning progress, or who even demand that they supplement their learning, are only making the situation worse.

“DSE takers are facing more stress than ever this year. Nagging and preaching by parents are not recommended strategies; rather, we recommend using simple encouraging words and phrases like “I know you are trying your best”; “daddy and mommy will always support you”; and “sleep better, study better”. Parents need to take action to show their love – for instance, by preparing their child’s favourite food, or by giving them a cheerful and encouraging note. All these are simple but positive and effective approaches.”

“Though we have all been through public exams, there is still a generation gap. To cheer candidates up and make them feel stronger, we have teamed up with college volunteers to share tips and techniques for DSE exam-takers online; while Chinese medicine practitioners are also helping out by sharing recipes for soothing insomnia and helping people decompress. Candidates can also dedicate songs to peers and friends online which will then be presented by YouTubers”, Yuen added.

To help further reduce candidates’ stress, our Counselling Unit has also designed a set of relaxation exercises consisting of deep breathing and muscle relaxation exercises to help control anxiety. We recommend that candidates practice these at bedtime, allowing the tension to drain from their eyebrows, foreheads, shoulders and limbs – helping them sleep better.

Some college students who have gone through the DSE process believe that candidates should not study too hard before the start of the exams, as this may trigger tension and affect their mental state. To help create positive vibes and lessen the tension, our School Social Work Department will host an online music sharing event through Zoom, a video conferencing app, presented by Youtuber Cting Wong and actress Kaki Sham the night before the DSEs commence. Interested parties please click here to register!

An event called “JUPAS and Your Choice” is also being tentatively scheduled for sometime in July, after the release of the DSE results. We are planning to invite tutors, registered social workers and college students to the event – they will all share their strategies regarding the Joint University Programme Admissions System (JUPAS) selection with students. To learn more about our DSE information and decompression methods, please stay tuned to our Facebook page.

To allow people aged 50 and above to enjoy physical activity without the risk of being injured, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong brought the sport of walking football from the UK in 2015 and introduced it to Hong Kong. With the steadfast support of the AXA Foundation, we have been promoting this emerging sport across Hong Kong ever since. Recently, we invited a professor of sports science to study the effects of walking football on cardiopulmonary function in people aged 50 and above. The research results showed that walking football not only improved the immune system and physical balance of the subjects, it also helped them expand their social circles. We hope to see more people enjoy walking football.

To encourage everyone to make exercise as a daily habit, youth leaders at our Wu Kai Sha Youth Village and staff members from the Whole Person Development Institute are teaming up to share some helpful exercise tips via Facebook Live, Mondays to Fridays at 4 pm. Previous editions of the broadcast have covered summer holiday and camping activities, but more innovative game ideas will be shared in the upcoming weeks. Remember to click here and check it out at 4 pm every weekday!

As discussed earlier, the DSE is fast approaching and candidates and their parents alike are getting nervous. To help everyone manage their stress levels and understand more about this year’s Exam Centres, we’ve prepared a set of DSE preparation tips for both candidates and parents. Please click the link below to download the tips. Remember to share them with your friends too!

In the face of this global pandemic, feeling negative emotions is inevitable. To better understand the anxiety and stress experienced by Hong Kong people, our Counselling Unit recently conducted a questionnaire on the emotions and general life stress experienced by residents of Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. The questionnaire found that over 80% of the respondents felt anxious about being infected, about a looming financial crisis, about being unemployed, about the suspension of schools, and about the shortage of hygiene supplies. In light of these findings, our Counselling Unit has prepared a series of tips on emotional resilience during this challenging period, in the hopes that we can all stand together and beat this coronavirus.
please click the link below for details.