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Mental health

Julia Samuel was one of Princess Diana’s best friends, and is now Prince George’s godmother. Photo: @juliasamuelmbe, @princessdibooks/X

Meet Julia Samuel, Prince George’s godmother and the late Princess Diana’s BFF

The psychotherapist hails from the family behind Guinness beer and has admitted it ‘took months’ for her to believe her friend Princess Diana had died – here’s what to know about Julia Samuel

  • Samuel was born into the Guinness family – famous for making it big in the banking and brewing industries – and befriended Princess Diana at a house party when they were in their 20s
  • Now godmother to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s son Prince George, she is believed to have helped Meghan Markle through tough times during her pregnancy too

Explainer | Does your child have OCD? An expert shares what to look for, how to help

Australians now have legal right to ignore work calls, emails after hours

What is oppositional defiant disorder and how to help Gen Z sufferers?

Using real cases they have handled, Hong Kong psychologists explain oppositional defiant disorder in young people – what it is, why it develops, and what parents can do about it.

Hong Kong psychologists explain oppositional defiant disorder in young people. Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

Meet Jack Nicholson’s estranged, lookalike daughter Tessa Gourin

Tessa Gourin’s upbringing has not been easy, but she’s not letting the archaic idea of being Jack Nicholson’s ‘illegitimate daughter’ get to her

Why do we like it when Taylor Swift makes us cry? An expert on sad songs

Sad music, from Taylor Swift to Eric Clapton to Beethoven, makes us feel a certain way, says a researcher from the University of New South Wales in Australia – it also ‘creates a sense of oneness’.

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Sydney tragedy exposes mental health crisis for Chinese students in Australia

A growing mental health crisis among international students in Australia may be fuelled by cultural isolation and inadequate support, with experts warning of a concerning trend.

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Suicides or attempted suicides among international students in Australia have become a worrying trend, experts say. Photo: Shutterstock

Why hot weather and mental illness are a bad mix

Hot weather doesn’t just put stress on the body, but on the mind too, making mental health conditions such as depression worse. Psychotherapists share why, and offer safety tips for when temperatures soar.

Opinion | Asia’s elderly are climate-vulnerable but they’re not victims

Ageing populations can bring unique strengths to climate efforts. There’s a need for a nuanced look at both their vulnerability and resilience.

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Women more likely to develop bipolar disorder in lead-up to menopause

Women are more than twice as likely to develop bipolar disorder during perimenopause – the transition to menopause – while the onset of major depressive disorder also increases, new study finds.

The onset of major depressive disorder increased by 30 per cent in perimenopause, the study found. Photo: Shutterstock

How to lower the risk of dementia? Reduce your ‘bad’ cholesterol

LDL cholesterol is not just bad for our hearts, but can increase our risk of dementia too, a Lancet review reveals. Changes to our diet can lower the level of ‘bad’ cholesterol in our bodies.

High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can build up in arteries and clog them, causing problems for the brain as well as the heart. Illustration: Shutterstock

Opinion | Will chatbots replace human therapists? I tried AI counselling

While chatbots can offer support by recognising emotional cues and using supportive language, AI therapists also acknowledge their own limitations, including a lack of any genuine connection

Meet Collin Gosselin, former child star of reality TV series Kate Plus 8

One of Jon and Kate Gosselin’s sextuplets on the 2000s family reality show, Collin is now 20 – and back in the spotlight following the revelation that his mum institutionalised him as a kid

17-year-old’s story highlights Gen Z’s struggles with ADHD

Jasmine Chan had long shown symptoms of ADHD – the third most common mental health diagnosis for Gen Z – before proper recognition saw her get the treatment she needed.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is the third most common mental health diagnosis for Gen Z. Illustration: Eunice Tse

Hong Kong launches free mental health tests at 3 centres after 2023 stabbing

Preliminary assessments will help identify risks of emotional distress in relation to depression and anxiety, authorities say.

Yau Tsim Mong District Health Center Express. Free mental health assessments have been launched to identify risks of emotional distress. Photo: Lok Sin Tong

Meet Anna Marie Tendler, John Mulaney’s ex-wife who wrote a tell-all memoir

Mulaney was married to multidisciplinary artist Tendler for 8 years before divorcing her and tying the knot with Olivia Munn, with whom he shares a son

Meet Alysha Newman, Canada’s twerking Olympic pole vault bronze medallist

Her dream was to represent Canada in gymnastics, but instead – after recovering from a back injury – she became a pole vault star and twerked at the Paris Olympics to celebrate her bronze medal win

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Gen Z and mental health

Gen Z is the first to grow up in a tech-saturated world with limitless access to information – and social media. Born after 1996, in Hong Kong this group of young adults – the youngest are 12, the oldest 27 – are coping with mental health issues in the wake of Hong Kong’s protests and the pandemic. This series presents the stories of Gen Zs who are grappling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders and more. We learn from them, and from experts, how they are helping themselves, and each other.

Neuroscientists discover how to achieve ‘flow’ and what the brain does

A team of neuroscientists who studied jazz guitarists find common factors in how they achieved a flow state and what their brains have done to help flow arise more easily.

Worried about memory loss? An expert explains memory and how to save it

Forget your phone? Can’t find your car keys? An expert explains how memory works, the things in life that can make it worse, and how to safeguard and improve yours.

Gen Z risk of eating disorders shown in 2 Hong Kong women’s stories

Around the world, young people struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, experts say, with social media such as TikTok a factor. Two Hong Kong women reveal their battles.

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Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

IBS experiences shared by social media influencers: ‘we all poop’

Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive condition that interferes with bowel movements and causes pain and bloating. Influencers post about it online, as more young people are being diagnosed with IBS.

Nadya Okamoto is one of a growing number of influencers who speak plainly about irritable bowel syndrome on their social media channels, helping to raise awareness of the condition, called IBS for short, which is tied to mental health. Photo: Instagram/nadyaokamoto

Learn fencing’s physical and mental health benefits in a Hong Kong class

With Hong Kong in the grip of fencing fever, a two-time Olympian with a fencing school shares why the sport is good for mind and body. We list his and four other fencing schools in the city that run classes.

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Hong Kong star Ronald Cheng’s drink, depression discussion cuts stigma: doctors

Mental health experts say people with depression often try to self-medicate with alcohol, but celebrities discussing their problems breaks the taboo.

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Whimsical ‘sleepmakers’ for hire as China youth battle with insomnia

In the battle for a good night’s rest, young people in China are turning to so-called professional sleepmakers for help.

Young people in China who are struggling to nod off at night are turning to so-called professional sleepmakers for help. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

The ex factor, or how to get over a lost love when a relationship ends

Are you still secretly mourning ‘the one who got away’? Couples therapists and a psychologist explain why we idealise that one special person long after the relationship has ended, and how to let go.

We tend to idealise that one special person long after a relationship has ended. Experts explain why, and offer tips on letting them go. Photo: Shutterstock

China son and parents in bitter battle to force each other into psychiatric ward

A young man in China who says his parents exaggerations about his mental health left him locked up in a psychiatric ward has hit back with insanity accusations against them.

How can we make public spaces more welcoming for neurodivergent visitors?

People with autism and ADHD interact with the world differently – and designing for inclusivity has never been more important

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Mental health
The latest mental health news including well-being, depression, mindfulness and mental health resources.
last updated:
27 August, 2024
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