August 21, 2024 - Hong Kong - In recent years, as global population aging has continued to intensify, the physical and mental health of the elderly has deteriorated, leading to a continuous increase in the suicide mortality rate due to mood disorders. In 2023, people aged 60 and above accounted for over 40% of the total suicide deaths in Hong Kong, with the elderly having the highest proportion of suicides. The reasons may include the rise in the immigrant population in Hong Kong lacking family support, long-term depression, and difficulty adapting to the changes in retirement life.

According to the "International Mental Health Questionnaire Survey" released by the Junior Chamber International Apex in March this year, among the 1,300 respondents, about one-third of the young people spend "0 hours" per week accompanying the elderly, reflecting that society overlooks the mental health needs of the elderly. In response to the survey results, the Junior Chamber International Apex organized a series of activities, including mental health lectures, visits to elderly living alone, using virtual reality (VR) to help young people understand the mental health conditions of patients, making gifts for elderly in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, and hosting various interest-based activities. The aim is to allow young people to have more interactive time with the elderly, promote mutual communication, and also encourage the elderly to express their emotional needs.

On August 4, 2024, the Junior Chamber International Apex successfully held the World Elderly Companionship Day and the closing ceremony of “Love Without Boundary - You’re Not Alone”, and set the first Sunday of August each year as "World Elderly Companionship Day". The aim is to raise public awareness of the mental health of the elderly and encourage more companionship and care for the elderly around us, in order to reduce the sense of loneliness among the elderly.

The closing ceremony attracted over 300 youth and the elderly to participate, and invited aromatherapists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to share methods to alleviate emotions and stress for the participants, allowing the young people and the elderly to spend a pleasant and meaningful afternoon together.

Junior Chamber International Apex President Alan Ho said, “Love Without Boundary - You’re Not Alone” aims to raise public awareness of the mental health of the elderly and encourage everyone to care more about the elderly around them. We hope that through this event, we can awaken the public's attention to the needs of the elderly and jointly build a caring culture for the elderly."

"Love Without Boundary - You’re Not Alone" 

Since 2015, the Junior Chamber International Apex has taken "Love Without Boundary" as the main focus of its international affairs project, cooperating with different international sister chapters, international non-governmental organizations, and government departments around the world to promote and solve the most concerned international issues of the year. Junior Chamber International Apex President Alan Ho said that the theme of the international affairs project of the Junior Chamber International Apex this year is "Love Without Boundary - You’re Not Alone", as depression has had a serious impact globally, and the general public's attention to depression is insufficient. Therefore, they will collaborate with youth in Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia to organize a series of activities, hoping to raise Hong Kong's awareness of the mental health issues among the elderly, and through a series of online and offline educational lectures and activities, educate the public on how to handle stress and identify mental health issues, so that they can help themselves or the elderly detect their mental health problems early, and provide timely support to help them receive treatment and get back on track as soon as possible.

Junior Chamber International Apex

The Junior Chamber International Apex (JCI Apex) was established in 1994 and is the only local chapter in Hong Kong with Putonghua as the official language, and is a registered nonprofit organization in Hong Kong. JCI Apex adheres to the mission of the youth chamber, and annually implements more than 20 projects in the four major development areas of "Personal Development", "Business Affairs", "Social Development," and "International Affairs," allowing members and the public to participate and benefit both individually and for the Hong Kong society. 

President Alan Ho encourages more interaction between the young and old and fosters a more connected, supportive, multi-generational society.

                                                 "World Elderly Companionship Day” is successfully held.

“International Mental Health Questionnaire Survey” has shown that about one-third of the young people spend "0 hours" per week accompanying the elderly.

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Company Name: Junior Chamber International Apex
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Country: HongKong
Website: jciapex.org.hk