Mental Health

Introduction

We are a vibrant, interdisciplinary community of professionals—including social workers, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, economists, and statisticians. Our shared mission is to advance understanding of mental health challenges and wellbeing, and to improve care for individuals experiencing mental distress through rigorous research, engaged teaching, and meaningful knowledge exchange. Grounded in person-centred and empowerment-based approaches, our work reflects a deep commitment to ethical practice and professional excellence. Over the past five years, cluster members have collectively secured more than HK$100 million in external funding and published over 400 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. We also contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education, preparing the next generation of mental health professionals with a strong foundation in evidence-based, compassionate care.
 
While the cluster primarily comprises colleagues whose core focus is mental health, many others in the department engage in related areas such as bereavement, family violence, and broader aspects of psychosocial wellbeing—highlighting the rich, collaborative nature of our research environment.

The Themes of Our Research Include:

Cluster Members

Funded Projects

2020-2025
TopicPI/Co-InvestigatorFunding sourcesAward Period
University graduates’ transitions to post-covid-19 workplaces: The impacts of the pandemic and adjusting to “new normal” work orders, Research and Impact Initiative on Communication in Healthcare- HKU RIICHAdvisory Board Member:
Prof. Samson Tse
Collaborative Research Fund (UGC)2023-01 to present
Towards a more inclusive Hong Kong: COVID-19, mental well-being, and mitigation strategies for a multicultural elderly communityProject Advisory Committee Member:
Prof. Samson Tse
Advisory Committee on Mental Health (Special Research Initiative Scheme)2022-07 to present
Web-based single-session growth mindset intervention for adolescent anxiety: A three-arm cluster randomised control trialCo-investigator:
Prof. Samson Tse
General Research Fund (UGC)2022-07 to present
Rebuilding life after migration studyProject Advisory Committee Member:
Prof. Samson Tse
Australian Research Council grant2021-06 to present
ABC, quest for a mechanism: Ambitious behaviour, Bipolar disorder, and CreativityPrincipal Investigator:
Prof. Samson Tse
General Research Fund (UGC)2020-2024

Significant Publications

Prof. Terry Lum Articles

Tang, J. Y. M., Wong, G. H. Y. , Ng, C. K. M., Kwok, D. T. S., Lee, M. N. Y., Dai, D. L. K., & Lum, T. Y. S. (2016). Neuropsychological profile and dementia symptom recognition in help-seekers in a community early-detection program in Hong Kong. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 64(3) 584-589.

Luo, H., Tang, J. Y., Wong, G. H., Chen, C. C., Lum, T. Y., Chi, I., & Lou, V. W. (2015). The effect of depressive symptoms and antidepressant use on subsequent physical decline and number of hospitalizations in nursing home residents: A 9-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 16(12), 1048-1054.

Lum, T. Y., Parashuram, S., Shippee, T., Wysocki, A., Shippee, N. D., Homyak, P., & Kane, R. (2013). Diagnosed prevalence and health care expenditures of mental health disorders among dual eligible older people. Gerontologist, 53(2), 334-344.

 
 
Prof. Ng Siu Man Articles

Ng, S. M., & Wang, Q. (2016). Body-Mind-Spirit group therapy for TCM stagnation syndrome – a RCT with self-report and physiological measures. World Journal of TCM Psychology, 1(1), 60-64.

Fong, T. C. T., Ho, R. T. H., Au-Yeung, F. S. W., Sing, C. Y., Law, K. Y., Lee, L. F., & Ng, S. M. (2016). The relationships of change in work climate with changes in burnout and depression: a 2-year longitudinal study of care workers. Journal of Psychology, Health & Medicine, 21(4), 401-412.

Ng, S. M. (2014). Is brief daily Body-Mind-Spirit practice desirable for staff who provide services for elderly people? Two pilot studies with care and professional workers. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development 24(4), 227-237.

Prof. Samson Tse Articles

Kotera, Y., Ronaldson, A., Hayes, D., Hunter-Brown, H., McPhilbin, M., Dunnett, D., …Tse, S., … & Slade, M. (2024). 28-country global study on associations between cultural characteristics and recovery college fidelity. NPJ Mental Health Research, 3(1), 46.

Brooks, E., Tse, S., Wright, J. Y., & Burdett, E. (2024). Educating future leaders to engage the challenges of a changing world: A blended-learning approach to character and leadership education at the University of Hong Kong. Tertiary Education and Management, 30(2), 111-127.

Tse, S., Yu, C. H., Yuen, W. W. Y., Ng, C. S. M., Lo, I. W. K., Fukui, S., Goscha, R. J., Chan, S. H., Wan, E., Wong, S. & Chan, S.  K., (2023). Randomised controlled trial evaluating the strengths model case management in Hong Kong. Research on Social Work Practice, 33(7), 728-742.

Fung, L. W., Zhao, J., Yan, V. K., Blais, J. E., Chan, J. C., Li, S. T., Shami, J. J. P., Kwan, C., Wei, Y., Wong, C. K. H., Li, X., Chui, C. S. L., Wan., E. Y. F., Lai, F. T. T., Tse, S., Cowling, B. J., Wong, I. C. K. & Chan, E. W. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccination preferences of university students and staff in Hong Kong. JAMA Network Open, 5(5), e2212681.

Chan, S. H. W., Yu, C. H., Liu, K. H. K., Lau, C., Fung, A. O. Y. & Tse, S. (2021). Evaluating the emotion regulation of positive mood states among people with bipolar disorder using hierarchical clustering. World Journal of Psychiatry, 11(9), 619-634.

Sum, M. Y., Chan, S. K. W., Tse, S., Bola, J. R., & Chen, E. Y. H. (2021). Internalized stigma as an independent predictor of employment status in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 44(3), 299–302.

Slade, M., Longden, E., Repper, J., & Tse, S. (2021). Recovery-oriented services. In C. A. Tamminga, E. I. Ivleva, U. Reininghaus, & J. van Os (Eds.), Psychotic disorders: Comprehensive conceptualization and treatments (pp. 583–591). Oxford University Press.

Tse, S., Ng, R. M., & Yuen, W. (2020). Education about medication for people with bipolar disorder comes from many sources. Psychiatry, 83(2), 195-196.

Lee, L., Tse, S., Blaszczynski, A., & Tsang, S. (2020). Concepts and controversies regarding tolerance and withdrawal in gambling disorder. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 31, 54-59.

Tsoi, E. W., Tse, S., Yu, C. H., Chan, S. K., Wan, E., Wong, S., & Liu, L. (2019). A nonrandomized controlled trial of strengths model case management in Hong Kong. Research on Social Work Practice, 29(5), 540-554.

Prof. Paul Yip Articles

Yip, P. S. F., Yousuf, S., Chan, C. H., Yung, T., & Wu, K. C. C. (2015). The roles of culture and gender in the relationship between divorce and suicide risk: a meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 128, 87-94.

Hsu, C. Y., Chang, S. S., Lee, E. S. T., & Yip, P. S. F. (2015). Geography of suicide in Hong Kong: spatial patterning, and socioeconomic correlates and inequalities. Social Science & Medicine, 130, 190-203.

Yip, P. S. F., Caine, E., Yousuf, S., Chang, S. S, Wu, K. C. & Chen, Y. Y. (2012). Means restriction for suicide prevention. Lancet, 379, 2293-2399.

 
 
Prof. Paul Wong Articles

Wong, P. W. C., Yu, R.W. M., Li, T. M. H., Lai S. L. H., Ng H. Y. H., Fan W. T. W. (in press). Efficacy of a multicomponent intervention program with or without animal-assisted therapy for enhancing self-esteem, employability, and reducing interaction anxiety of socially withdrawn youths in Hong Kong – a pilot study. Society and Animals.

Ngai, V. & Wong, P.W.C. Leung, Chung, K. F, & Chau, P. H., (in press). The effect of a telephone-based cognitive-behavioral intervention on parenting stress: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research.

Wong, P. W., Lau, K. C., Liu, L. L., Yuen, G. S., & Wing-Lok, P. (2015). Beyond recovery understanding the postbereavement growth from companion animal loss. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0030222815612603.