A psychologist explains how Hong Kong students can handle the mental health impacts of distressing news
- Many teens report feeling anxious after the brutal murder of model Abby Choi, and constant exposure to disturbing news can cause PTSD-like symptoms
- It is important to approach stories about violent crimes with empathy and call out anyone guilty of inappropriate or immature behaviour
Police officers investigate the crime scene in the case of the murder of Abby Choi at Lung Mei Village in Tai Po. Photo: Elson LiA Hong Kong student surnamed Shek* and her classmates let out a scream when they returned to their classroom after recess. On the blackboard, someone had drawn some disturbing pictures related to the gruesome murder of model Abby Choi Tin-fung.
“Some kids are mocking the news, scaring us with speculated details and making spooky noises near our ears when they talk about it to freak us out,” said the 12-year-old student from a school in Southern District, adding that she called out these classmates for their inconsiderate behaviour.
Meanwhile, Melody Ma Jing-mao was so horrified that she could not even leave her bedroom over the weekend after the news broke last Friday.
The Form Five student lives on Fo Chun Road, where the victim was last spotted.
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“Even though I had to go to school today, I needed a family member to wait at the bus station with me because I was scared someone would jump out from behind the bushes ... I had to listen to some relaxing music to make me feel less nervous,” said the 16-year-old student from Carmel Pak U Secondary School.
Zehba Irfan, 16, first heard the news when her mother read aloud from Facebook. She and her siblings screamed for her to stop.
“I’m just a teenager, so I don’t think we have enough emotional maturity to handle this kind of news,” said the Form Five student from Rosaryhill School (Secondary Section).
She added that the articles went into too much detail about the victim’s body, saying: “my mind went to crazy places. I overthink a lot and always expect the worst to happen, so this news doesn’t help.”
Psychologists have cautioned that exposure to the disturbing details of the Abby Choi murder case could harm the emotional health of vulnerable individuals in Hong Kong, particularly teenagers and those with pre-existing anxiety or trauma-related mental health issues.
Adrian Low, president of the Hong Kong Association of Psychology and a chartered psychologist who specialises in stress research, spoke to Young Post about the psychological impact of reading traumatic news and how important it was for young students to approach the development of the gruesome murder case with empathy, critical thinking, and respect for the victims and their families.
“Reading negative news can trap a student in a loop of negative emotions or aggravate existing negative feelings,” said Low, adding that some of his patients who suffer from anxiety have shown increased signs of the condition because of the murder case.
“The body will keep score, and it could lead to PTSD-like symptoms,” he added, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
While the case has been widely discussed in the local community, Low cautioned that exposing teenagers to graphic or sensationalised news may cause unnecessary emotional distress or trauma.
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“It is important to consider teenagers’ age, maturity level, and emotional readiness before exposing them to gruesome news related to murder cases,” he said.
He added that it is important to strike a balance between providing factual and relevant information and protecting the emotional well-being of teenagers.
Low advised students who feel overwhelmed or anxious from the news to take a break from social media and the news and take some time to connect with others.
“Engage in activities that promote relaxation and positive emotions, such as reading a book, listening to music, or spending time with friends or family,” he said.
“Talk to someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or counsellor. Expressing your feelings and concerns can help alleviate anxiety and provide a sense of support and understanding,” he said.
As for those emotionally immature students who make fun of the deceased victim and the murder case, Low suggested calling out inappropriate behaviour and explaining why it can be hurtful.
“Other students can provide context about the impact of violent crime on individuals and communities and help emotionally immature students understand the gravity of the situation,” he said, highlighting that empathy education is crucial.
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On a scale from one to 10, Melody said her level of anxiety has gone up to eight. She is unable to stop picking her nails and biting her lip. She also had nightmares on Saturday and Sunday nights and woke up multiple times.
“I have been trying not to receive any updates, so I deleted the news apps on my phone. However, there are so many different news reports on Instagram, and many of my friends are talking about it on WhatsApp. I turned off my phone over the weekend to prevent seeing more terrifying updates,” said Melody.
Shek and Zehba share the same level of anxiety.
“I could still feel my heart beat quickly, and my mind has been thinking about the worst things that could happen,” said Zehba.
Shek recalled feeling “very sick” after seeing some gruesome details on television.
“At first, I didn’t want to know about it because it’s really creepy. But it has kind of sunk in.”
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The student hoped that news outlets could omit some of the more graphic, unnecessary details.
“I think it would be better to warn young readers before they read the article, such as ‘this passage contains disturbing details’,” she said.
Melody said schools should step up and teach students how to handle distressing news.
“I hope schools can cover things like how to deal with mental health problems when we consume news like this instead of only focusing on academics,” said Melody.
Low noted that parents, teachers, and caregivers all play a crucial role in guiding teenagers through any anxiety caused by the news.
“It is important for teachers and parents to acknowledge and validate the feelings of students experiencing anxiety related to the news. This can help create a sense of safety and trust and encourage students to express their concerns,” he said.
*Full name withheld at interviewee’s request
Any reader who feels distraught over the case can call the Shall We Talk hotline operated by Hong Kong Red Cross at 5164 5040 between 10am and 6pm. You can also make a reservation to receive psychological support using the same number on WhatsApp, the channel @hkrcshallwetalk on Telegram or by clicking on this link.