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The latest mental health news including well-being, depression, mindfulness and mental health resources.
A teenager sits alone on a bench in Tuen Mun on May 11. Photo: Sun Yeung
Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong’s culture of comparison might be weighing down on students

Readers discuss the unhealthy mindset passed down from adults to children, how to improve mental health outcomes in schools, and the harmful effects of incarceration.

Wellness

Want to get closer to someone? Take a walk with them - here’s why

Wellness

Want to help prevent dementia? Learn new activities to boost the brain

Wellness

A stroke at 31 left her not wanting to go out. How she got her life back

Kandi Schmitz was afraid of leaving the house or exercising after a stroke during a 5km run. Now she’s back training for a half marathon.

Kandi Schmitz (left) with her husband and two children in 2024. Schmitz had a stroke at 31 while running a 5K race; almost a decade later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Photo: Courtesy of Heather Lynn Photography/ American Heart Association
Wellness

From ‘cancer man’ at 35 to Ironman less than 2 years later, how he did it

To lose weight after gaining nearly 20kg after blood cancer treatment, Indian policeman Nidhin Valsan set his sights on his first triathlon.

Wellness

Women’s longevity, heart health and more in focus at Hong Kong summit

Medical gaslighting, AI-driven tools also among topics to be examined by experts at the inaugural Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit.

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From our archives

When a family of five died tragically in a murder-suicide in 1999

Parents take their children’s lives amid financial strain and leave community in Tin Shui Wai reeling by the devastating act.

Police mount an investigation at a flat in Tin Shui Wai Estate where the bodies of five people were found after an apparent murder-suicide in 1999. Photo: SCMP Archives
Hong Kong society

Letters | With basketball betting, complacence on youth harms would be a costly mistake

Readers discuss youth gambling risks, suspected botulism cases, and legislating for online safety in Hong Kong.

Wellness

Are you better off single? It halves dementia risk, study finds

Widowed, divorced and never-married individuals in a US study had roughly 50 per cent or lower dementia risk compared with married people.

India

Only thing that grows is debt: how climate change fuels farmer suicides in India

Water shortages and climate change are driving crop failures and debt in India’s agriculture sector, which employs 45 per cent of the population.

Shaikh Imran shows a photo of his brother Shaikh Latif Sheru, a farmer who committed suicide due to mounting financial loans. Photo: AFP
Good Schools Guide

Tackling social media’s impact on teens’ mental health

As teenagers grapple with identity and peer relationships online, the importance of teaching media literacy and healthy social media habits has never been more crucial.

A study has shown that addiction to social media platforms and video games can lead to mental health issues in young people. Photo: Shutterstock
Trending in China

Rubbish-obsessed China woman fills upscale home with junk, triggers complaints

60-year-old who lives in US$5 million home hoards everything from cardboard to food waste, forces neighbours to sell up.

Wellness

In Koh Samui, Kamalaya’s new Cognitive Wellness Program offers a brain reset

The much-lauded temple of wellness is paving new ground with a special programme designed to reset cognitive patterns by sharpening focus, clearing fog and encouraging the release of mental fatigue.

Education in Hong Kong

Alarm over Hong Kong student suicides, but minister rejects calls for counsellors

Secretary for Education Christine Choi suggests ‘whole-school approach’ to tackle concerns and blames online world for mental health issues.

Lawmakers have described the student suicide situation as serious after 11 suspected cases were reported between January and April in Hong Kong this year. Photo: Jelly Tse
Art

Ukrainians scream loudly, splash in puddles at de-stressing art event

The installations at the interactive event in Kyiv aim to help Ukrainians de-stress and explore their emotions after three years of war.

A visitor poses for a picture in front of a drawing on a wall during a visit to the “Third Wind” interactive exhibition in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 27, 2025. The exhibition aims to help visitors understand their emotions, relieve stress and find their inner child amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AFP
Education in Hong Kong

15 student suicides in Hong Kong so far this year, set to surpass 2024 rate

Education minister to discuss student mental health and support measures at Legislative Council panel meeting on Friday.

Wellness

Why SkinnyTok TikTok trend and others glorifying thinness are so bad

Young women and girls are far more likely to suffer from illnesses like anorexia and bulimia as social media pushes thinness, experts say.

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South Korea

Seoul is spending millions to fight loneliness in South Korea. Will it work?

Efforts include creating spaces like the Seoul Maeum Convenience Store, a cross between a mental health centre and a cafe, and a 24-hour support hotline.

People walk across a road in Seoul. South Korea’s capital is at the epicentre of the nation’s social isolation epidemic, with people living alone now making up more than 35 per cent of all households in the capital, according to The Korea Herald. Photo: AFP
Offbeat

They cry, pee and suck dummies. Lifelike baby dolls cause a stir

Eerily lifelike babies called reborn dolls recently went viral in Brazil, leading some to question their collectors’ mental health.

Universities in Hong Kong

Letters | Here’s how to market Hong Kong universities to Harvard students

Readers discuss the potential outflow of foreign students from Harvard, Hong Kong’s move to take pedestrians off busy streets, and providing a listening ear to troubled students.

Taiwan

Letters | Why Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te was silent on cross-strait relations

Readers discuss the policy constraints confronting the Taiwanese leader, mental health in the LGBTQ community, and the challenge of restricting social media use.

Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te holds a press conference to mark his one year in office in Taipei on May 20. Photo: Kyodo
Hong Kong culture

Opinion | My own ‘Bus Uncle’ incident suggests Hong Kong is as stressed as ever

The ‘Angry Auntie’ who berated me for being slow brings to mind recent studies uncovering widespread anxiety and depression in Hong Kong.

Passengers get on a bus at a bus stop on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse
Icons and Influencers

Meet Karissa and Kristina Shannon, who moved into Playboy Mansion at 17

The twins detailed their traumatic lives in the Playboy mansion, including a forced threesome with Hefner for their 19th birthday, in a new People interview, and share their plans for motherhood.

MTR Corporation

Letters | How MTR can plan ahead for unavoidable service disruptions

Readers discuss the need for proactive rather than reactive crisis handling, clarifying the purpose of the penalty for disruption, and caring for teachers’ emotional well-being.

Hong Kong society

More support needed for Hongkongers left bereaved in suicide cases: experts

University of Hong Kong study shows counselling and peer group services help loved ones of victims to better handle traumatic responses.

It is estimated that at least 6,000 people each year in Hong Kong are left coping with the guilt, confusion and social stigma that arises from losing a loved one to suicide. Photo: Jelly Tse
Wellness

What is Arfid? Why disorder is about more than being a picky eater

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder leads people to reject foods because of their smell, taste or consistency, making eating a burden.

videocam
Children and adults who are affected by avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (Arfid) do not feel hungry, are afraid of eating or have little appetite. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

Doll’s house collectors think small with big mental health benefits

Adult collectors spend big on mini homes, furniture and decor in a pastime that eases stress and anxiety, and is booming in wake of Covid-19.

Wellness

How staying curious into old age may stave off dementia

Asking questions and pursuing lifelong learning may offset – or even prevent – Alzheimer’s disease and improve brain health.

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