St Paul’s Co-educational College and its Primary School hold a joint Teachers’ Retreat Day
St Paul’s Co-educational College and its Primary School held a joint Teachers’ Retreat Day on 2 January at St Paul’s Church. The Revd Canon Dr Lam Chun Wai opened the event with prayers and the singing of hymns, after which Mr Wong Yan Lung, the former Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, spoke on the theme ‘Young People’s Mental Health and Faith’.
Mr Wong began by sharing his own story of personal growth, recalling how the encouragement and care shown by his teachers beyond the classroom had shaped his life. He expressed his gratitude to the teachers of St Paul’s Co-educational College, acknowledging that, even in a highly demanding and pressurised educational environment, they are still willing to go the extra mile for their students and to be a vital blessing for the next generation.
The more outstanding the academic results, the higher the mental health risks
Mr Wong then cited local and international research indicating that around one in six young people in Hong Kong is facing some degree of mental health difficulty, and that depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation are not uncommon among secondary school students, yet many of those in need have never received any support. In his view, intense and sustained academic competition, together with the endless comparison and sense of isolation generated by social media, are the two main factors driving the rapid deterioration in young people’s mental health, and academically high-achieving students in elite schools are in fact a high-risk group.
In the face of this situation, Mr Wong invited teachers to reconsider the foundations of hope. If a young person’s hope rests solely on achievement and the approval of others, such hope will inevitably be fragile and can easily turn into anxiety and depression. By contrast, faith leads people to acknowledge a Lord who is beyond themselves, and so to learn to accept their own limitations, to realise that they do not always have to be ‘the best’, and no longer to be bound by things beyond their control. Drawing on the image of the tree planted by the water in Jeremiah 17.7–8, he pointed out that what truly sustains life is to have one’s roots in the Lord who gives living water. He also referred to the ‘peace of God, which surpasses all understanding’ described in the Letter of Paul to the Philippians, which is precisely the guarding presence so many young people need when they are trapped in compulsive, destructive patterns of thought.
Mr Wong Yan Lung speaks on the theme ‛Young People’s Mental Health and Faith’
Mental wealth is worth investing in
Turning again to the role of teachers, Mr Wong said he fully understood their concerns regarding time, professional responsibilities and psychological pressure, and noted that the school is working with professional bodies to provide support through training and clear procedures, so that teachers do not have to shoulder alone the burden of caring for students in need. He invited teachers to look at their work from the perspective of ‘mental wealth’: a student whose mental health is rich and full is not only emotionally stable and resilient, but also able to build good relationships and to enjoy solitude, and the time and effort teachers devote to accompanying, listening to and nurturing their students is therefore a profoundly worthwhile investment in life.
He went on to relate the story of an overseas bus driver, reminding colleagues that teachers are not merely professionals who ‘deliver’ knowledge from one point to another, but people who build relationships with their students along the journey and become significant figures of protection and care. Research shows that, outside the family, teachers are often the most important positive role models in the eyes of students; when the family is unable to provide a secure base, teachers may become a crucial ‘attachment figure’ and even play a life-saving role for students in times of crisis.
In speaking of self-care, Mr Wong quoted the Serenity Prayer: ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.’ He encouraged teachers to acknowledge their own limitations, and learn to yield to the authority of God. Drawing on medical and personal experiences, he testified that when people are willing to give generously of their time and energy in serving others, God often adds strength and blessing in unexpected ways, so that they themselves are refreshed even as they work.
True rest is an unforced rhythm
Finally, he pointed out that ‘rest’ is not only about relaxation after work, but also about experiencing the inner rest that comes from Christ even in the midst of busyness. Our Lord Jesus said, ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light’, so that people may avoid being driven by a relentless pace, and instead learn an unforced rhythm in which they can still enjoy his presence amid the labours of teaching and caring for students.
He concluded by offering a blessing for the teachers and setting out five directions for their educational ministry: first, that the school may nurture generation after generation of students who are rich in mental health; second, that teachers may find satisfaction and affirmation in their service; third, that all may experience the abundant provision of ‘heavenly resources’; fourth, that everyone may receive wisdom to set healthy boundaries; fifth, that in the midst of busyness all may still know the inner rest that comes from the Lord. He also prayed that a community of genuine mutual support may be built up among all staff members, so that together, in the Lord, they may be borne safely across the challenges of the future.