Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: teen’s community spirit and mental health work earns her nomination in youth category
- Aspiring clinical psychologist Kristen Lei recognised for work towards improving emotional well-being among city’s residents
- The 16-year-old founded Hong Kong Joint School Society of Psychology last year
Kristen Lei Tsz-wing wants to help Hongkongers improve their emotional well-being.
The 16-year-old, who aspires to contribute to society and fight mental health stigma in the community as a clinical psychologist, has put a lot of work into promoting psychological literacy among members of the public, in a bid to provide them with an effective tool for dealing with stress.
She founded the Hong Kong Joint School Society of Psychology in 2020 at the age of 15, putting together a group of young people who are keen to study psychology.
Under her leadership, the registered student-run organisation launched a mentorship programme and invited university students to teach secondary school pupils the basic principles of psychology, and share their experiences of preparing for university education.
Her team also organised a webinar series and invited former mental patients, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists to talk about the importance of mental wellness, in an attempt to give attendees a platform for understanding and discussing mental health issues.
“I believe everyone can contribute to their community in their own way, no matter what circumstances they are in and how old they are,” Lei said. “Members of our organisation want to draw on our talent to make an impact.”
