Hong Kong Social Workers Face Mental Health Crisis Amid Rising Caseloads, Union Warns
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is facing a growing mental health crisis among its social workers, with a recent union survey revealing alarming psychological distress levels amid soaring workloads and an internal culture that union leaders say prioritizes blame over support.
Key Points
- A 2025 survey by the Social Workers' Union found 49% of SWD social workers experienced moderate to severe anxiety, 27% had moderate to severe depression, and 58% linked their mental health struggles directly to work conditions
- SWD staff turnover rates have risen dramatically from 2.9% in 2019/20 to 6.6% in 2024/25, exceeding the overall civil servant attrition rate of 4.8% that same year
- Three SWD social workers died by suicide within six months in 2026, with union leaders noting this is the first time in over 20 years such incidents have occurred
- Frontline social workers at Integrated Family Service Centres handle an average of 40-60 cases simultaneously, while some medical social workers manage over 100 cases, with workload described as never decreasing
- SWD Director Du Yongheng issued an internal letter announcing new mental health support measures, including a dedicated wellness section on the internal network and special funding for wellness programs in 2026/27
- The union recommends shifting from an accountability-focused management culture to a support-based approach, and suggests hiring external consultants to assist management improvement
Why It Matters
The deterioration of social workers' mental health strikes at the heart of Hong Kong's social safety net, as these are precisely the professionals tasked with supporting vulnerable populations. With experienced staff leaving faster than they can be replaced and remaining workers overwhelmed by complex cases involving cross-border families, single parents, and children with special educational needs, the quality of social services delivered to Hong Kong's most needy residents is at serious risk.
The deterioration of social workers' mental health strikes at the heart of Hong Kong's social safety net, as these are precisely the professionals tasked with supporting vulnerable populations. With experienced staff leaving faster than they can be replaced and remaining workers overwhelmed by complex cases involving cross-border families, single parents, and children with special educational needs, the quality of social services delivered to Hong Kong's most needy residents is at serious risk.