Date: 16 Nov 2023 (Thu)
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
In-person venue: CPD LG.18, Centennial Campus, HKU
**Zoom link will be provided to online participants
Registration link: https://bit.ly/46cj2sg

Abstract:
Research and clinical innovations for young people’s mental health have lagged far behind that in adults. Many researchers and clinicians are searching for the right ‘recipe’ to help, but the complexity of the issue means that we are unlikely to find a magical recipe. Our research group has a strong focus on identifying biological and psychosocial risk and resilience factors. In addition to conventional research studies, we have been piloting Citizen Science methods involving young people as active co-producers of research rather than passive recipients. Project Soothe (www.projectsoothe.com) has collected over 800 soothing photographs and engaged with citizen scientists from over 40 countries. We have also launched an app feature during COVID lockdown, co-curated a Pioneers in Practice: User Guide with a range of charity organisations, and more recently delivered workshops to over 200 children and young people and co-produced wellbeing tools with 9 teams of citizen scientists across schools and other youth groups. Our experience suggests that citizen science methodology offers an empowering experience for young people. More recently, we have also launched a Reading Resilience Network, building bridges between researchers and practitioners to advance our understanding of and intervention for young people’s mental health. Among other projects, we have launched the Resilience Rucksack initiative organising ‘Resilience Fairs’ in local schools. Of particular interest to colleagues in Social Work, we are currently developing social prescribing programmes with the local council, exploring community activities that can help support public mental health. In this talk, I will share our findings and the working process of these projects with the audience and hope to inspire a lively discussion on mental health and service provision.

For enquiry, please contact Mr. Sam Lee as samsamlee@hku.hk