2013-2014 Annual Report 年度報告

Walk Hand in Hand With the theme of “Walk Hand in Hand”, this issue captures how in the past year we have collaborated with many stakeholders to carry out services locally and internationally. Our programs integrate classroomteaching with meaningful service in community, and thusachieves the goal of “serving to learn, learning to serve” 攜手同行 此年報以「攜手同行」為主題，透過記錄過往一年的點滴，說明服務研習處如何與不同持份者合作，在本地和海外開展各類型的服務，讓知識從課室走進社區，達至「服務促學，學以服務」的目標。https://commons.ln.edu.hk/osl_annualreport/1007/thumbnail.jp

The Mental Health of Unemployed and Socially Isolated Middle-aged Men in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong

This study investigates the poor mental health of unemployed middle-aged men (with women as a reference for comparison) in Hong Kong, who were unemployed and isolated socially in what is officially described as a new town, Tin Shui Wai. The study also explores the different aspects of social capital that may improve mental health for middle-aged individuals, drawing on data from ten in-depth interviews with five men and five women, two focus groups with five men and six women and a survey using questionnaires completed by 188 men and 215 women. The results showed that men in the sample had poorer mental health than women. In particular, levels of depression and alcohol abuse were higher in the men than the women. By contrast, women in the sample manifested more anxiety than the men. The findings also showed that unemployment had more negative effects on men than on women, with the men having more free time but nothing to do, feeling stressed, going out less with family members, drinking more alcohol and so on. Drawing on theories of social capital (Lin et al. 1985, McKenzie 2006), I argue that the poor mental health among men was associated with weak social capital. The data showed that for both men and women, social capital could have a positive association with reducing depression and anxiety. In particular, for men, community networks and social support had a positive association with reducing depression and alcohol abuse. For women, group membership, community networks and social cohesion had a positive association with reducing depression and anxiety. Based on these findings, I suggest an approach that focuses on increasing social capital to promote mental health among men and women. The approach argues for the need to introduce policies and strategies to promote social capital at the community and individual level for men, and at the community level for women