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Mental health

Mental health

The latest mental health news including well-being, depression, mindfulness and mental health resources.

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Are Trump loyalists struggling in US rural heartland ready to say ‘enough’?

Hammered by crippling costs and precious revenue lost to China, Midwest farmers’ loyalty to the US president will be tested in 2026 midterms.

2 hours agovideocam

Japan social worker opens ‘It is OK to be useless’ bar to relieve daily pressure

20 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

Good Schools Guide

How outdoor classrooms are shaping young minds, from Denmark to Hong Kong

19 Dec 2025 - 6:00AM

Opinion | How young Chinese learned to stop worrying and love themselves

Amid disillusionment and a stagnant economy, China’s young people are taking the initiative to embrace self-compassion and treat themselves well.

18 Dec 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

People walk past an advertisement in the shopping area of Sanlitun in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE

How to avoid financial stress this holiday season? Experts share tips

From budgeting to giving experiences, a therapist, finance app boss and retail guru share how to enjoy the holidays without racking up debt.

16 Dec 2025 - 5:15PM

Listening to music can lower dementia risk by nearly 40%, new study says

Research shows how listening to music can both lower dementia risk and improve cognitive areas like memory, attention and problem-solving.

15 Dec 2025 - 7:15PMvideocam

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She quit her corporate job to walk 5,700km alone across America

Jessica Guo became the first woman to hike a continuous route linking the Continental Divide Trail with the Great Divide Trail.

16 Dec 2025 - 6:20PM

Jessica Guo quit her job to hike across America. Her trek ended on September 19, at the northern terminus of the Great Divide Trail, at the Kakwa Lake terminus marker for the 54th parallel in Kakwa Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Jessica Guo

How does humming help you reduce stress? Expert tips on yogic breathing

Humming stimulates the vagus nerve and has other health benefits, and is the base of the yogic breathing technique ‘humming bee breath’.

13 Dec 2025 - 7:52AMvideocam

Trending in China

Chinese woman with social anxiety feeds 120 stray cats with banquet leftovers

Woman has participated in wedding banquets about every 10 days in past 3 years, sometimes bringing home 30kg of untouched leftover food.

12 Dec 2025 - 4:25PM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Opinion | After Tai Po fire, Hong Kong needs support, compassion – and answers

While the city waits for an inquiry to deliver findings, it also needs a renewed commitment to safety and oversight to rebuild public trust.

12 Dec 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Volunteers take a moment on December 8, in front of flowers left by mourners for the victims of the Tai Po fire tragedy. Photo: AFP

How a nap helps you power through the day and why you should set your alarm

An afternoon catnap lasting from 10 to 30 minutes can leave you refreshed and recharged, and even strengthen your mental health over time.

11 Dec 2025 - 3:15PM

The best time for a power nap is for 15 to 20 minutes after lunch, between 1pm and 2pm, one expert says. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Letters | Uncovering truth of Tai Po tragedy not at odds with care for survivors

Readers discuss concerns raised about survivors’ psychological well-being, recognising migrant domestic workers’ contribution over the years, and stepping up efforts at disease prevention.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Editorial | Mental health support essential for all of society after Tai Po fire tragedy

With time, meaningful comfort and social connections will help frontline survivors and the city as a whole recover and find a path forward.

11 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

Love your baby bump? How to get a bespoke pregnancy sculpture in Hong Kong

Samantha Waterhouse was not able to capture her own unique curves during pregnancy, so now she helps other mothers-to-be preserve theirs.

10 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

Samantha Waterhouse, pictured here in 2021 when she was pregnant with her first child, has set up a bespoke pregnancy sculpture service that transforms a woman’s unique curves into pieces of art using 3D scanning technology. Photo: The Bump Collective

‘#seeyouwhenim16’: Australia’s social media ban for children takes effect

PM Albanese called the ban, which is being closely watched by other nations considering similar measures, ‘a proud day’ for families.

10 Dec 2025 - 3:58PMvideocam

A girl uses her phone as she walks with a group of children in Sydney on Monday. Photo: AP

‘A lot of fear’: Australia’s under-16s anxious ahead of social media ban

As blocks begin on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram before the summer holiday, teens worry they will be ‘basically isolated’ from their friends.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:15PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Ella Langley, the rising country music star whose song is on Landman

Her song ‘Cowboy Friends’ is on Landman and she shared the stage with Miranda Lambert – but is she dating Farmer Wants a Wife’s John Sansone?

9 Dec 2025 - 6:00AMvideocam

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Hong Kong youth

Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s youth must be key part of city’s mental health support

When young people are involved in designing interventions, those interventions are more culturally relevant, better used and more sustainable.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

The number of students struggling with mental health issues rose 27 per cent between 2023 and 2024. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong fire aftermath: how victims are dealing with the psychological toll

Psychologists say encouragement from family, friends and colleagues crucial to helping residents even as government steps up mental health support.

6 Dec 2025 - 9:18PM

Explainer | On the verge of a breakdown, new mother discovers what stress really is

A battle with cancer, a new baby and an alcoholic husband tested high-flying executive Asha’s ability to cope with stress.

6 Dec 2025 - 7:33AM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Some Hong Kong fire survivors reluctant to relive horror for judge-led panel

Residents of Wang Fuk Court destroyed in blaze say providing accounts of what happened could be overwhelming.

5 Dec 2025 - 8:35PM

Firefighters shoot water on the towers of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 27. Photo: Karma Lo

Why you should take up swimming after your retirement

Swimming takes pressure off joints, builds muscle strength and cardiovascular health, boosts mental health, and can improve your social life.

5 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM

When compared with other low-impact activities like walking or cycling, swimming is a safer exercise for people who struggle with balance, works more muscle groups, and is something you can do all year round, one expert says. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Better late than never’: Singapore parents laud curbs on phone use in schools

The city state is among countries that have stepped up measures to curb screen time and tighten social media restrictions for adolescents.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:47PM

Teen mauled to death after climbing into lion enclosure at Brazil zoo

Authorities say 19-year-old Gerson de Melo Machado, who had mental health struggles, scaled a six-metre wall to enter the enclosure.

2 Dec 2025 - 1:47PM

Why social media’s favourite fuel is Oxford University Press’ word of 2025

‘Rage bait’ – online content engineered to provoke – beat out ‘aura farming’ and ‘biohack’ to win the prize, underscoring 2025’s digital division.

1 Dec 2025 - 6:59PM

A woman angrily gestures at her laptop, highlighting the negativity of social media, where “rage bait” has become widespread. Photo: Shutterstock

How many steps should you walk for minimum brain health decline?

A new study suggests that walking’s potential benefits in slowing cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s may begin well below 10,000 steps a day.

15 Dec 2025 - 5:23PM

Sports therapist Gill Stewart walks with her dog Bessie. Walking - and physical activity in general - slows the accumulation in the brain of tau, a protein closely tied to the memory decline seen in Alzheimer’s. Photo: Gill Stewart

Swiss right-to-die group founder dies by assisted suicide

Ludwig Minelli, who championed freedom of choice at the end of life, died days before his 93rd birthday.

1 Dec 2025 - 10:32AM

Could magic mushrooms help us live longer? What Bryan Johnson’s test showed

Johnson’s conclusions after taking magic mushrooms are backed by findings that psychedelics could extend life by rewiring the brain and more.

4 Dec 2025 - 3:47PM

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