https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/331054/feed The latest mental health news including well-being, depression, mindfulness and mental health resources. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Tragedies involving vulnerable elderly people continue to make headlines in Hong Kong. Sadly, in a rapidly ageing society where many live alone or with an elderly partner, this seems unlikely to change any time soon. There is an urgent need to close gaps in support services. The authorities have initiated several measures, including a plan to import trained domestic carers, but that is only a start on addressing a growing problem. About a week ago, a man, 72, and his 69-year-old partner died in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:15:12 +0000 dpa dpa If you feel lost or overwhelmed now your children have left the nest, you are far from alone. Many parents experience empty nest syndrome at this time of the year. “Empty nest syndrome isn’t a mental health condition, but a set of feelings or symptoms that parents might feel when all their children have left home,” says Dr Elizabeth Wakeland, consultant, clinical and forensic psychologist at Cygnet Health Care in the UK. “It’s a period of significant life change where parents are trying to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371762/do-you-have-empty-nest-syndrome-5-signs-and-expert-ways-cope https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371762/do-you-have-empty-nest-syndrome-5-signs-and-expert-ways-cope Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis “Have you made that doctor’s appointment about the lump on your back yet?” your spouse asks. You sheepishly mumble that you have not. Walking past a packed wardrobe – a daily reminder of a decluttering project put off for months – you settle onto the sofa to finish binge-watching that new Netflix series. Sound familiar? Procrastination is no big deal; everyone puts off tasks they don’t want to do, right? Wrong, according to Fuschia Sirois, a professor of social and health psychology at Durham... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371864/how-procrastination-can-harm-your-physical-and-mental-health-and-practical-tips-stop-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371864/how-procrastination-can-harm-your-physical-and-mental-health-and-practical-tips-stop-it Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Veteran Chinese hurdler Wu Yanni has responded to renewed public criticism following her bronze-medal finish in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, revealing recent physical health struggles and vowing to continue competing for as long as her body allows. In a series of interview videos released on Tuesday and Wednesday, the outspoken athlete addressed accusations of being “high-profile” and “talking big”. “My mother thinks I talk too big, but I don’t think I do,” Wu said.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3371677/chinese-athlete-wu-yanni-reveals-health-struggles-over-past-year-vows-keep-competing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3371677/chinese-athlete-wu-yanni-reveals-health-struggles-over-past-year-vows-keep-competing Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:17 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Georgina Tang’s childhood was deeply unhappy. Growing up in poverty in Hong Kong’s New Territories in the 1960s, as one of eight children born into an arranged marriage, her first memories are of physical abuse at the hands of her jealous mother. “When they were forced to marry at the age of 21, my father was in love with another woman, whom he never quite forgot about,” says Tang, now 63. “It drove my mother crazy. It made her furious that I was my father’s favourite – she hated me because he... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371491/he-my-driving-force-how-hong-kong-born-mother-built-legacy-her-disabled-son https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371491/he-my-driving-force-how-hong-kong-born-mother-built-legacy-her-disabled-son Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:00:38 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan An increasing number of Chinese celebrities are voluntarily sharing their histories of mental illness, rather than following the previous practice of keeping them hidden, in what some see as an effort to win empathy and audience support. These conditions include depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In January last year, famous actress Zhao Lusi’s suspension of work due to severe depression put celebrities’ mental health... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3371507/china-celebrities-speak-out-mental-health-diagnoses-seek-authentic-connections-fans https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3371507/china-celebrities-speak-out-mental-health-diagnoses-seek-authentic-connections-fans Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Almost a year after a catastrophic fire tore through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, 11-year-old Jackey* still remembers the home he lost. “I sometimes think of Wang Fuk Court and the things I left behind there,” the Primary Six pupil said. “I wanted to go back and get them, including the gifts my mum gave me.” Now living with his parents in a transitional housing flat, Jackey turns to the two calm-down bottles he made himself: transparent containers filled with water, glue and glitter. When... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371293/after-tai-po-fire-children-make-slow-steady-recovery-through-play-therapy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371293/after-tai-po-fire-children-make-slow-steady-recovery-through-play-therapy Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:00:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 100th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. When this series launched, my mother was still by my side. My first column explored what looking after her taught me about dementia. Now, as I write this 100th piece, I reflect on what dementia taught me about the nature of care itself. Before she was diagnosed with dementia – but likely as her memory began to fray – my mother was admitted to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3371107/what-dementia-care-around-world-teaches-us-about-dignity-community-avoiding-burnout Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected suicide pact after an elderly couple were found dead in a public housing flat on Sunday, following the woman’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Police received a report at 2.39pm on Sunday that a man and a woman had been found unconscious inside a flat at King Wing House in Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun. A tray of burnt charcoal was found at the scene. The couple, a 72-year-old man surnamed Cheung and a 69-year-old woman surnamed Tse, were rushed to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371316/elderly-hong-kong-couple-die-suspected-suicide-pact-over-parkinsons-diagnosis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371316/elderly-hong-kong-couple-die-suspected-suicide-pact-over-parkinsons-diagnosis Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:44:22 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. In many families, parents can breathe a little easier once their child turns 18. But for caregivers of children with special educational needs (SEN), parental challenges only increase and often multiply as the years go on. Love 21 Foundation recently surveyed 210 families caring... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3371099/hidden-crisis-faces-caregivers-neurodiverse-children-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3371099/hidden-crisis-faces-caregivers-neurodiverse-children-hong-kong Sun, 18 Oct 2026 03:30:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial World Mental Health Month, observed each October, may not command the same public attention in Hong Kong as it does elsewhere. Yet the latest revelations about suicides among local school children should serve as a sobering call for more urgent action. With those aged 15 or below accounting for 60 per cent or more of suspected student suicide deaths over the past three academic years, and the under-15 suicide rate climbing to 2.9 per 100,000 – the highest since 2016 – the city cannot afford to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When Ria Xi set off on her 20,000km (12,400-mile) endurance challenge, she had no idea what the impact on her body would be. But she was curious to find out. The Beijing-born former tech executive who used AI to develop running training plans has now developed a daily test to track her biometric data alongside memory, motivation and energy levels as she runs across Eurasia. The extraordinary journey, which began on May 1, 2026, from Vladivostok, Russia, will see Xi run the ancient Silk Road... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370981/its-never-hurt-less-chinese-ultrarunners-knee-pain-fades-20000km-silk-road-trek Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa You spend the evening alone on your couch, decline a party invitation or prefer to stay at home instead of going out to a pub or cafe. Some people withdraw, consciously or unconsciously, from social interactions. Sometimes it is just a phase that can help you recharge your social battery. If it is prolonged, however, it can be harmful to your health. People naturally need time for themselves, say, after partying or during stressful periods in their lives. It is perfectly normal to keep to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370310/how-much-alone-time-too-much-experts-differences-between-recharging-and-withdrawal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370310/how-much-alone-time-too-much-experts-differences-between-recharging-and-withdrawal Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. I refer to the letter, “Hong Kong’s mental health narrative must instil a sense of hope” (September 23). Your correspondent is right. Hope is not simply a personal emotion. It is a social resource shaped by the environments we inhabit, the relationships we build and the futures... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3370153/hong-kong-should-invest-natural-infrastructure-harvest-hope https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3370153/hong-kong-should-invest-natural-infrastructure-harvest-hope Fri, 09 Oct 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu As the weather cools in October, it is finally pleasant enough to venture out on weekends, so it is time to trade the indoor hustle for this season’s best offerings. This weekend’s line-up brings together meaningful community events, immersive storytelling and unique local flavours across the city. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. ‘What We Regret Most’ “What We Regret Most” is a community-driven, story-led exhibition that invites people to embrace the messy, awkward and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3370126/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-october-9-11 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Canada will not allow medically assisted suicide for people whose only condition is mental illness, the justice minister said on Wednesday, seeking to close debate on one of the country’s most controversial healthcare issues. Canada legalised assisted dying for those at the end of life in 2016. The right was extended to those suffering from serious and incurable illnesses in 2021, even if death was not “reasonably foreseeable”. Initially, Canada was to allow assisted death regardless of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370100/canada-will-not-allow-assisted-suicide-those-only-mental-illness https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370100/canada-will-not-allow-assisted-suicide-those-only-mental-illness Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:57:49 +0000 Reuters Reuters US authorities arrested ⁠a person in Washington state on Tuesday ⁠who they accuse of providing advice and offering to live-stream a deadly mass shooting carried out earlier this year in Canada. James Cody Bryant, 30, was detained on a charge of conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country in connection to the shooting at ‌Tumbler Ridge, according to the Department of Justice. The charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison. Bryant was in repeated contact with the shooter, Jesse Van... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369966/us-resident-arrested-connection-canada-school-shooting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369966/us-resident-arrested-connection-canada-school-shooting Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:43:44 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Chad Lowe’s family confirmed the tragic news of his 13-year-old daughter Fiona’s passing in a statement shared with People on September 29. “We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona,” the Emmy-winning actor’s family said. “Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time,” the statement continued. It also included contact information for a Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US. While Lowe’s family did not provide a cause of death,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369790/meet-chad-lowes-eldest-daughter-mabel-who-paid-tribute-her-late-sister-fiona https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369790/meet-chad-lowes-eldest-daughter-mabel-who-paid-tribute-her-late-sister-fiona Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 99th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Will using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preserve a woman’s brain health and protect her from dementia or not? The debate continues. Various studies have looked at the effects of menopause and hormone treatment on the brain – and dementia risk. Some have suggested that HRT has no impact on brain health in older women, and that it has a neutral... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3369547/can-hrt-help-prevent-dementia-new-research-suggests-it-might-depending-key-factors Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar On September 29, actor Chad Lowe and his family, which includes his wife Kim Painter, 52, announced the passing of their 13-year-old daughter Fiona Hepler Lowe. A medical examiner determined the cause of death to be suicide, People magazine reported on October 1. In a statement shared with People, Fiona’s heartbroken family described her as “a loving young girl who was smart, creative, and loved to dance”. She had an older sister, Mabel, 17, and a younger sister, Nixie Barbara, 10. “She was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369545/who-chad-lowes-wife-kim-painter-what-know-couple-mourns-their-daughter-fiona https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369545/who-chad-lowes-wife-kim-painter-what-know-couple-mourns-their-daughter-fiona Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Zoie Ma Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Zoie Ma Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s recent policy address set out an ambitious reform agenda designed to sharpen Hong Kong’s competitive edge while enhancing people’s livelihoods. As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, we should reflect on the role mental well-being can play in the city’s fortunes. Lee’s address mentioned an integrated approach featuring 11 measures as part of efforts to promote mental health. These include extending the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism, expanding... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369189/investing-hong-kongs-mental-health-makes-good-economic-sense https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369189/investing-hong-kongs-mental-health-makes-good-economic-sense Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin A heavily redacted police report has deepened the mystery surrounding the death of a young Chinese semiconductor researcher at the University of Michigan, who took his own life soon after what US federal agents described as a routine and voluntary interview. On the cold morning of March 18, Wang Danhao, 31, spoke with two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers for about 10 minutes outside his rented home in Ann Arbor. When one officer offered to end the interview because of the weather,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368780/us-police-report-raises-more-questions-about-chinese-researcher-wang-danhaos-death https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/science/article/3368780/us-police-report-raises-more-questions-about-chinese-researcher-wang-danhaos-death Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:00:19 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, reportedly died of a suspected overdose at a rehabilitation facility on Sunday. He was 27. His family, including younger sister and model Kaia Gerber, have asked for “privacy during this very difficult and painful time”, TMZ reported. Lexi Wood, Gerber’s ex-girlfriend, took to Instagram two days after his passing to pay a heartfelt tribute, accompanied by a carousel of photos of her and Gerber. “It’s hard to put... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3368523/presley-gerber-remembered-words-his-exes-lexi-wood-and-charlotte-dalessio https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3368523/presley-gerber-remembered-words-his-exes-lexi-wood-and-charlotte-dalessio Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:00:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. I read the chief executive’s policy address delivered last week from its first page to its last and one word never appears: hope. Its 11 mental health measures are all about coping. Two gaps stand out. First, the missing middle. Four of the 11 measures target students, teachers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368351/hong-kongs-mental-health-narrative-must-instil-sense-hope https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3368351/hong-kongs-mental-health-narrative-must-instil-sense-hope Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A woman in China, who dedicated over two decades to her career as a doctor, made a surprising choice three years ago to leave her profession and open a steamed stuffed bun store. As time passed, her store not only survived but flourished in the competitive food industry, prompting her to launch a second outlet in July. “When I was a doctor, the thought of quitting often crossed my mind. Now, running a bun shop keeps me busy and tired, but I am so happy that I can’t stop,” said Dong Min, 48, in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3368333/chinese-doctor-quits-20-year-medical-career-open-steamed-bun-shop-mental-health-relief https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3368333/chinese-doctor-quits-20-year-medical-career-open-steamed-bun-shop-mental-health-relief Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:00:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British Columbia filed a lawsuit on Monday against OpenAI in California over the company’s failure to report violent activity on its ChatGPT service by the person who committed a mass school shooting in the western Canadian province. British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma said in July that the province planned legal action against the US tech giant for its connection to the deadly February gun violence in the tiny mining town of Tumbler Ridge. Sharma told reporters that the suit filed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3368310/canadas-british-columbia-sues-openai-us-court-over-school-shooting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3368310/canadas-british-columbia-sues-openai-us-court-over-school-shooting Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:50:59 +0000 Faye Bradley Faye Bradley Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber has sadly passed away. The 27-year-old reportedly died on Sunday, September 20, at a rehab facility, as per TMZ. Presley’s parents, Crawford and Rande Gerber, as well as his younger sister Kaia Gerber, have asked for “privacy during this very difficult and painful time”, TMZ reported. Presley’s official cause of death has yet to be announced. The late model was known to have struggled with his mental health and an opiate addiction. Just last month, Kaia opened... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3368208/who-rande-gerber-late-presley-gerbers-father-and-cindy-crawfords-husband https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3368208/who-rande-gerber-late-presley-gerbers-father-and-cindy-crawfords-husband Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:01:13 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 98th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Dementia news is almost relentlessly grim – a steady drumbeat of rising cases and elusive cures. More bad news came in 2025, when semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 drug celebrated for treating diabetes, obesity and various other conditions, failed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. The setback prompted semaglutide’s developer, Novo Nordisk, to pull the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Recently, an acquaintance told me about her brother’s marriage break-up. “They had sex once in eight years,” she said – as if that were the sole reason. It would not have been: the couple’s collapsing relationship was the reason. The absence of sex – except for that single occasion in eight years – was a symptom that likely made it worse. It raises the question, though: is there a sweet spot for sex in a relationship? How many times a week or a month should we be “doing it” to keep a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366995/how-much-sex-should-couple-have-focus-quality-over-quantity-experts-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366995/how-much-sex-should-couple-have-focus-quality-over-quantity-experts-say Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof When Cindi suffered her first severe psychotic episode a decade ago, she could no longer tell where reality ended and her imagination began. “My reality and fantasy [were] all distorted. I had no idea what was real, what was not,” the 38-year-old, who asked to be identified only by her first name, told This Week in Asia. “It was so severe to the point that I couldn’t even recognise my own family members. My mother was there, my brother was there, but they didn’t feel like my mother or my... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3367875/malaysia-confronts-complexities-schizophrenia-after-school-killing-ruling https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3367875/malaysia-confronts-complexities-schizophrenia-after-school-killing-ruling Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:20:37 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Two brothers in their fifties who were found dead in their Hong Kong flat had largely withdrawn from social contact and were financially supported by their parents, the South China Morning Post has learned. The exact cause of death has yet to be confirmed by postmortem examinations. No suspicious circumstances had been identified at this stage, the force said on Tuesday. An insider said the bodies were discovered after the men’s elder sister made a police report on Monday. The sister was alerted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367552/2-socially-isolated-brothers-found-dead-hong-kong-flat-no-foul-play-suspected https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367552/2-socially-isolated-brothers-found-dead-hong-kong-flat-no-foul-play-suspected Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:22:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Two years after her armed, mentally ill husband was fatally shot by a Hong Kong police officer, Mrs Li is still waiting to learn whether a death inquest will be held. On September 15, 2024, she called police when her 38-year-old husband, who had a history of mental illness, attacked his elderly mother and her at their North Point home. Officers wielding shields arrived and found the man holding a 30cm (11.8-inch) knife and a pair of scissors. Little did Mrs Li, who preferred to be identified by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3367499/i-just-need-answer-widow-haunted-husbands-shooting-seeks-inquest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3367499/i-just-need-answer-widow-haunted-husbands-shooting-seeks-inquest Tue, 15 Sep 2026 02:30:05 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan A Malaysian teenager was on Monday found not guilty of murdering his 16-year-old schoolmate last year, after a high court ruled that he had been of unsound mind when he attacked the victim in their school, in a case that left the country reeling in shock and horror. The boy, who was 14 at the time of the attack last October, was arrested at his high school in Selangor state on the same morning that he had repeatedly stabbed Yap Shing Xuen in the school’s toilet. The victim, who was a year from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3367451/malaysian-teenager-acquitted-killing-schoolmate https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3367451/malaysian-teenager-acquitted-killing-schoolmate Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:12:02 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Richardson Mojica is no stranger to thoughts of ending it all. The 40-year-old university professor and mental health advocate was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and depression in his early 20s. He finds fulfilment in his job, yet suicidal ideation has always lingered. “We call it passively suicidal – you don’t want to live, but you don’t want to stop everything,” he said, revealing that he had survived a self-inflicted attempt on his life months ago. Survival is a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3367229/man-break-down-unpacking-philippines-male-suicide-crisis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3367229/man-break-down-unpacking-philippines-male-suicide-crisis Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung In the final instalment of the Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Emily Hung examines alternative therapies helping residents restore their balance, as practitioners stress that small, conscious moments can make the biggest difference. For Hong Kong film practitioner Ngai Tsz-wai, peace of mind begins on all fours. The 40-year-old practises animal flow, a quadrupedal, ground-based movement system that blends elements of yoga, dance, gymnastics and martial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367298/all-fours-or-wilderness-retreat-how-hongkongers-are-reclaiming-their-calm https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367298/all-fours-or-wilderness-retreat-how-hongkongers-are-reclaiming-their-calm Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to US$18 billion to settle the social media harm case brought by US state attorneys general, and to implement default protections for teens, including a two-hour daily limit. A company does not agree to a sum like that over a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367119/lets-protect-hong-kongs-children-social-media-ourselves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3367119/lets-protect-hong-kongs-children-social-media-ourselves Sat, 12 Sep 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu The peak summer heat is finally easing in Hong Kong, and a lot is going on in the city in the coming days. Whether you are in the mood to check out cool art, browse exclusive fashion pop-ups or go on a forest soundwalk, here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. Chilai Howard at the Goethe-Institut Hong Kong interdisciplinary designer and artist Chilai Howard’s solo exhibition, “A Self-Portrait: The Process of Erasing” is running at the Goethe-Institut Hongkong until October 6.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3366989/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-11-13 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3366989/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-11-13 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The suicide rate among under-15s in Hong Kong rose to a decade-high in 2025, defying an overall downward trend, with social media activity strongly linked to cases among young people, according to research from a local university. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong also used World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday to call for schools to strengthen support for students in light of a spate of suicide attempts around the start of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:51:30 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 is a timely reminder that suicide prevention cannot begin only at the point of crisis. Hong Kong needs strong clinical services and emergency response, but we also need to make help-seeking simpler and more socially acceptable long... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3366859/suicide-prevention-hong-kong-lets-normalise-reaching-out-help https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3366859/suicide-prevention-hong-kong-lets-normalise-reaching-out-help Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the global community reflects on a sobering reality: suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide – each life a story cut short, a family shattered, a community left to grapple with unbearable loss. In Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) at the University of Hong Kong estimates last year’s suicide rate at 13.0 per 100,000 in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 97th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. The seeds of dementia may be sown long before our first birthday – or even before we are born. New research shows that while risks such as high blood pressure and cholesterol compound over decades, early sugar exposure can harm the brain before we take our first breath. A study by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) published in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A judge declared a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial on Friday after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether she was criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The mistrial, on the seventh day of deliberations, leaves the case unresolved and allows prosecutors to take the 36-year-old former labour and delivery nurse to trial again. Neither Clancy, her family nor the jury showed any emotion as the judge announced the mistrial. The deliberations... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366447/mistrial-declared-lindsay-clancy-child-killings-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366447/mistrial-declared-lindsay-clancy-child-killings-case Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:22:16 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As pressure mounts in the Philippines for authorities to act on strengthening school security after two fatal shootings in eight weeks, safety experts say any measure must look at mitigating violence much earlier, even before a child brings a weapon to the campus gate. A bill pushed by lawmaker Bam Aquino will require schools to establish a comprehensive safety framework, including localised safety plans with guidelines on prevention, emergency response and recovery. The bill also includes... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3366267/point-grievance-philippines-urged-rethink-school-safety-approach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3366267/point-grievance-philippines-urged-rethink-school-safety-approach Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Reuters Reuters A single juror in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial is preventing the jury from reaching a unanimous verdict, her lawyer said in court on Thursday, after deliberations stretched into a sixth day over whether to convict the Massachusetts woman of killing her three young children. Defence lawyer Kevin ‌Reddington made that statement shortly after the jury sent Judge William Sullivan in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a note that prompted him to reinstruct jurors on what would constitute “reasonable... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366282/holdout-juror-preventing-verdict-lindsay-clancys-murder-trial-lawyer-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366282/holdout-juror-preventing-verdict-lindsay-clancys-murder-trial-lawyer-says Thu, 03 Sep 2026 21:04:00 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Sayoko is watching her 13-year-old son more closely than he probably realises as he settles into his first year of junior high school in Yokohama. He is keeping up with his classes and is fortunate to be popular because of his sporting prowess. But Sayoko, who did not want to give her full name, remembers having a hard time at the same age, so she is alert to any sign that her son might be unhappy. “I was not good at sport and did not have a large circle of friends and, of course, there were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3366131/japan-goes-student-suicide-watch-school-term-starts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3366131/japan-goes-student-suicide-watch-school-term-starts Thu, 03 Sep 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Emma White Emma White For more than two decades of Janet Leung’s life, hunger replaced her joy. After losing her father, endless food maths filled her head, drowning out other thoughts. Her anxiety around eating kept others at a distance. Miserable as she was, Leung could not give up this distraction; it offered an escape from the sideways glances and judgment that she endured in her youth. Hidden inside the grown-up was a 16-year-old girl, stuck in an environment that demanded perfection. Patching a ‘broken... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365952/hong-kong-womans-20-year-eating-disorder-after-dads-death-and-how-she-recovered https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365952/hong-kong-womans-20-year-eating-disorder-after-dads-death-and-how-she-recovered Wed, 02 Sep 2026 03:00:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial on Monday spent a third day deliberating without reaching a verdict on whether the former labour and delivery nurse is criminally responsible for killing her three children in 2023 – a case that has drawn attention to maternal mental health after childbirth. The jurors began discussing the case on Thursday in Plymouth County Superior Court in Massachusetts after hearing testimony from more than 70 prosecution witnesses, including her former husband, and 10... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365900/no-verdict-after-3-days-deliberations-lindsay-clancy-trial-over-child-killings https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365900/no-verdict-after-3-days-deliberations-lindsay-clancy-trial-over-child-killings Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:06:18 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong, a city of overachievers, especially when it comes to the young, is also filled with children who take to social media early. Almost 35 per cent of kindergarten pupils log at least one hour of recreational screen time daily. By the junior forms, 60 per cent exceed the international two-hour daily limit. The time children spend on screens creates friction at home, accounting for 85.5 per cent of family disputes. Governments must look into whether they are adequately protecting children... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365616/dont-leave-hong-kong-parents-their-own-devices-child-social-media-use https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365616/dont-leave-hong-kong-parents-their-own-devices-child-social-media-use Mon, 31 Aug 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Dr Brian Ip Pak-in’s Kabinett art space taps into the look and feel of a Scandinavian cabin, complete with pine panels and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking green hills. It acts as a fast-acting dose of Nordic tranquillity. But the practising psychiatrist did not design it with wellness retreats in mind, and neither is this an art therapy centre. Instead, Kabinett is where he can freely show pieces that he deems not safe for work, or, at least, not safe for his work. “I have to be very... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3365552/how-hong-kong-psychiatrist-taste-nsfw-art-built-gallery-unsuitable https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3365552/how-hong-kong-psychiatrist-taste-nsfw-art-built-gallery-unsuitable Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Meta agreed to pay a coalition of US states as much as US$16.7 billion and to impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, according to a court filing on Wednesday that ends a landmark trial in California. The settlement, which a federal judge quickly approved, resolves claims by 29 states that Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to hook young users, misled the public about the risks and unlawfully collected data from children under 13. Texas reached a separate... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365364/meta-agrees-pay-us17-billion-settle-teen-social-media-addiction-case-us https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365364/meta-agrees-pay-us17-billion-settle-teen-social-media-addiction-case-us Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:09:56 +0000