A survey has found that almost one in four men in Hong Kong are at risk of moderate to severe mental health problems, with nearly half of them aged 35 to 54, leading to calls for more support targeting this group.

On Saturday, the Hong Kong Mental Health Association published survey results of 1,698 men over 18; these survey results showed that 417 of them had moderate or severe mental health risks.

According to the findings, 50.8 percent of them are between the ages of 35-54.

The association conducted the online survey between last October and September this year, and the results were announced on Tuesday ahead of International Men’s Day.

“Many men face financial difficulties as well as long working hours without time and place to rest,” said Leung Ka-chun, project manager of the Jockey Club Men’s Area of ​​the Hong Kong Mental Health Association.

He added that this high-risk group of men are often reluctant to seek help and called for more support targeted at them, as well as public education, to remove the negative labeling of mental problems.

The association also conducted survey evaluations among those receiving services within the Jockey Club Men’s Zone, a three-year project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Foundation to provide mental health support to men.