Our Mental Health Stories: Speaking Up Against Stigma

Margaret decided to start spending more time taking care of her teenage children in 2009 and therefore resigned from a government sector role and took up teaching part time. She has been a full time homemaker since 2014. Throughout all these changes, mental health challenges occurred and she had to adapt to the new difficulties it posed. Margaret wants to share her lived personal experience about how to handle the difficulties mental health can present and how to move forward with them.

Coby is a former Accountant and now works as a Mental Health Support Worker at a psychiatric hostel. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018 and has been living in recovery for 3 years. She has a creative mind and enjoys watercolour painting, western cooking and gardening. Her dream is to use her experience to inspire others and reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Jeffrey is a father of two and has worked in the advertising field for over decades. He loves exercising and practices meditation regularly as part of the ways to keep his mental health in check, this is crucial when we live in this fast paced always switched on city.

Erica is a communications consultant at a professional services firm where she supports companies in developing and executing their employee communications and engagement activities for wellbeing and voluntary benefits programs. Erica has always been passionate about how communications can be used for good. After studying Psychology and Sociology, she began her career at an agency in Washington, DC supporting campaigns that leveraged communications and behavior change strategies to inspire public health in areas such as heart disease, breast cancer in young women, teen dating, and mental health. After chasing her dream to move abroad, Erica landed in Hong Kong in September 2017 to take on a new role working on communications programs for multinational healthcare, corporate, and education clients. Following her own experience with mental ill health and an opportunity to create and launch her former employer's internal mental health initiative, she was inspired to turn her focus to helping create healthier and happier workplaces full-time.

Annissa is no stranger to mental health growing up, living in recovery with anxiety and depression. She hopes to be a voice for people who are struggling, feeling misunderstood, unheard or not seen. She wants to lead by example and show how transformative it is to share your story.

Lalin was born and raised in China. She came to Hong Kong in 2015 for college and started her career as a consultant here. After going through all the ups and downs with the city during these years, she feels a special connection with the city, and wants to use her own story to empower people around her. Being far away from family, chasing her dream in a city that sometimes, under the current situation, is understandably difficult towards Chinese people, stress and anxiety could be overwhelming. She suffered from panic attack and once thought it would never get better again. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. She received tremendous help and support from her family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. She realized that she is not alone and felt even stronger than before. “It’s always ok to feel not ok and we all are in this together”.

Yen is a mental health advocate keen on highlighting society’s dangerous obsession with perfectionism. A former over-achiever herself, Yen skipped multiple grades and became the youngest head prefect and valedictorian at school, went on to graduate with a perfect GPA from Stanford University and investment banking offers in NYC, and eventually started her own fashion e-commerce business featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes Asia etc. However, this relentless drive for achievement came at a cost – behind the façade of success were crippling eating disorders and depression since adolescence. After years of running herself to the ground, she finally decided to hit the reset button and redirect focus to promoting psychological wellbeing in society; hoping to share her own experience as a cautionary tale to others, and one day become a non-profit counselor. As part of this journey, Yen is currently pursuing a Masters in Psychology at HKU, while volunteering at crisis centers and participating in Mind HK’s Youth Wellbeing Practitioner pilot program this summer.

Bea moved to Hong Kong eight years ago to become an English teacher. She has a special affinity for the city because it is here she successfully overcame an eating disorder that lasted ten years whilst in New Zealand then the UK. Her drive for developing herself and others motivated her to pursue further study in teaching and voluntarily take on other responsibilities while working full-time, such as line managing, teacher training, and co-ordinating a volunteer program educating refugees. Last year, she became a mental health first aider and her recovery story was shared globally in her organisation. She also initiated regular awareness-raising sessions for staff on different aspects of mental health, with the aim of destigmatising its discussion in and out of the workplace. She is excited to return to her undergraduate subjects, Psychology & Sociology, when later this year she begins a Masters of Counselling at HKU, with her future goal and dream to help others recover and thrive.

Bea moved to Hong Kong eight years ago to become an English teacher. She has a special affinity for the city because it is here she successfully overcame an eating disorder that lasted ten years whilst in New Zealand then the UK. Her drive for developing herself and others motivated her to pursue further study in teaching and voluntarily take on other responsibilities while working full-time, such as line managing, teacher training, and co-ordinating a volunteer program educating refugees. Last year, she became a mental health first aider and her recovery story was shared globally in her organisation. She also initiated regular awareness-raising sessions for staff on different aspects of mental health, with the aim of destigmatising its discussion in and out of the workplace. She is excited to return to her undergraduate subjects, Psychology & Sociology, when later this year she begins a Masters of Counselling at HKU, with her future goal and dream to help others recover and thrive.

Gaëlle has been calling Hong Kong home for over 17 years. Her versatile interests have led her through a multifaceted career ranging from the corporate to the performing arts. Gaëlle is a consultant in communications and strategy, one of the founders of several well-loved Hong Kong bakeries as well as an accomplished actress and drama teacher to the city’s youth. Gaëlle, the mother of two young kids, experienced a severe mental illness after the birth of her daughter in 2016. Since her recovery, she has been dedicated to learning more about mental health. Gaelle shares her own experience and insights to help normalize and fight the stigma around mental health.

I’m a survivor of adverse childhood experienes, complex trauma, sexual assault; I also enjoy singing in chorus, exploring art galleries and reading mysteries, and am neurodivergrent. All of which are facets of me! Although my experiences impacted my mental health and physical health, struggling with a mishmash aftermath of depression, anxiety and trauma, fostered my passion to start speaking about the many sides to mental health struggles, in hopes of breaking the stigma and starting a real conversation about it. My journey to recovery taught me a lot, in particular, the fact that you’re here in the present moment means that you have been trying your best, because you have survived till today. To me, life is not about waiting for or getting to that light at the end of the tunnel, it’s about lighting up that tunnel yourself, along your way, with each step you take, whether forward or backwards, whichever direction!

Hafsa was born and raised in Hong Kong. She left at the age of 18 and returned home after the UK’s first wave of covid cases. Being a practitioner in the health and wellbeing industry she has learnt how to overcome depression and anxiety. She is a dedicated meditator. It keeps her feeling grounded, centered, and aware. She hopes that her story can help inspire others to understand that our past doesn't define us, what we do now can change the course of our lives, leading us one step closer to over coming depression.

Jonathan has been involved in education and sustainable development for many years. As much as it takes time to cope with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, he hopes that by sharing his story, he can send the message that a positive lifestyle and the ability to suggest what others can do to help can help relieve ASD and ADHD.

Annissa is no stranger to mental health growing up, living in recovery with anxiety and depression. She hopes to be a voice for people who are struggling, feeling misunderstood, unheard or not seen. She wants to lead by example and show how transformative it is to share your story.

Michael pursues excellence in what he is passionate about and is known for being creative and energetic among his friends. A lawyer by profession, he has developed eclectic interests in writing, public speaking, music, history, psychology, food appreciation, running as well as golf. Little had been known about his struggles over the years with a somewhat “geeky” personality until he was finally diagnosed with AD/HD. While Michael continues to flourish in his career and life on a road less traveled, he hopes that his personal account will help promote public awareness on mental health in general, encourage others to treat every challenge as a gift being an opportunity to self-awareness, and to never compromise or lose faith towards a true calling.

Lalin was born and raised in China. She came to Hong Kong in 2015 for college and started her career as a consultant here. After going through all the ups and downs with the city during these years, she feels a special connection with the city, and wants to use her own story to empower people around her. Being far away from family, chasing her dream in a city that sometimes, under the current situation, is understandably difficult towards Chinese people, stress and anxiety could be overwhelming. She suffered from panic attack and once thought it would never get better again. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. She received tremendous help and support from her family, friends, colleagues and even strangers. She realized that she is not alone and felt even stronger than before. “It’s always ok to feel not ok and we all are in this together”.

Joann is a full time banking professional, while completing a Psychology Masters degree. As a mental health advocate she is passionate about raising awareness and fighting against stigma in Hong Kong. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, baking, doing water-sports and hiking.

Originally from the UK, has experienced living in India and she is now settled in Hong Kong. Pooja was diagnosed with anxiety and is now in recovery. Incorporating Bollywood dancing, implementing boundaries in all of forms of relationships and in the workplace, and adopting an overall healthier lifestyle has helped her on her journey. Pooja hopes sharing her story and highlighting there is a way forward will encourage others to share theirs and take steps towards erasing the stigma.

Yen is a mental health advocate keen on highlighting society’s dangerous obsession with perfectionism. A former over-achiever herself, Yen skipped multiple grades and became the youngest head prefect and valedictorian at school, went on to graduate with a perfect GPA from Stanford University and investment banking offers in NYC, and eventually started her own fashion e-commerce business featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes Asia etc. However, this relentless drive for achievement came at a cost – behind the façade of success were crippling eating disorders and depression since adolescence. After years of running herself to the ground, she finally decided to hit the reset button and redirect focus to promoting psychological wellbeing in society; hoping to share her own experience as a cautionary tale to others, and one day become a non-profit counselor. As part of this journey, Yen is currently pursuing a Masters in Psychology at HKU, while volunteering at crisis centers and participating in Mind HK’s Youth Wellbeing Practitioner pilot program this summer.

I’m a survivor of adverse childhood experienes, complex trauma, sexual assault; I also enjoy singing in chorus, exploring art galleries and reading mysteries, and am neurodivergrent. All of which are facets of me! Although my experiences impacted my mental health and physical health, struggling with a mishmash aftermath of depression, anxiety and trauma, fostered my passion to start speaking about the many sides to mental health struggles, in hopes of breaking the stigma and starting a real conversation about it. My journey to recovery taught me a lot, in particular, the fact that you’re here in the present moment means that you have been trying your best, because you have survived till today. To me, life is not about waiting for or getting to that light at the end of the tunnel, it’s about lighting up that tunnel yourself, along your way, with each step you take, whether forward or backwards, whichever direction!