The second day of Hong Kong Shue Yan University’s “International Conference on Human Resilience: Navigating Life Changes & Challenges” brought together scholars and experts from sociology, psychology, counselling, public health, and other disciplines, both from Hong Kong and overseas, to explore how individuals, families, and communities adapt to adversity.

 

Dr Lam Ching-choi, non-official member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the value of resilience training and research for mental health policies, noting that the “ReST Hub” launched by a public university and the Education Bureau’s “4Rs Mental Health Charter” strengthen students’ resilience by equipping them to face challenges with a positive mindset. He also shared his personal experience of recovering from a serious cycling injury, explaining that by adjusting his perspective and understanding that injury is part of an athlete’s journey, one can actively respond to adversity.

 

Professor Tang So-kum, Distinguished Professor of Research in the Department of Counselling and Psychology at HKSYU, stated in her address that resilience is a lifelong journey and is not limited to one stage of life. As a scholar, she expressed particular concern for young people navigating education and career pathways, as well as older adults facing health and social changes — groups that merit interdisciplinary research on mental health.