 
															Augmenting positive thinking and mental wellbeing: Managing the intertwined mental and physical conditions
The World Health Organisation states that ‘There is no health without mental health’. Mental health problems not only limit the cognitive function and emotional regulation of an individual, but also lead to high risk of various physical diseases. Recently, loneliness is a global public health challenge, particularly for older adults. Our research team is dedicated to exploring factors associated with prominent mental health issues, developing and examining various cognitive and behavioural interventions to enhance the wellbeing of people with different chronic conditions, such as:
- mindfulness-based psychoeducation, adherence therapy for people with psychosis and schizophrenia;
- the impact of COVID-19 on mental health across 21 regions; and
- the story behind loneliness of older adults.
Related Research Projects
| Project Title | Funding Source | Principal Investigator | Project Period | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy-based lifestyle counselling programme for people with early psychosis on physical activity: A pilot randomised controlled trial | Health and Medical Research Fund Research Fellowship Scheme | CHONG Yuen Yu, Connie | 2021–2023 | 
| The loneliness of older adults being cared for by live-in migrant workers and their dyadic relationship: A mixed methods study | Faculty Development Scheme, RGC Competitive Research Funding Schemes for Local Self-financing Degree Sector 2010-21 | HO Hok Man, Ken | 2021–2023 | 
| Peer support and the mental health of migrant domestic workers: A scoping review | Wellcome Trust Limited | HO Hok Man, Ken | 2021–2022 | 
| Evaluating the effectiveness of a peer-led self-management programme for people with recent-onset psychosis: A randomised controlled trial | Health and Medical Research Fund | CHIEN Wai Tong | 2020–2023 | 
| Effects of a music-visual guided physical activity promotion programme among adults with intellectual disability living in residential care facilities: A cluster-randomised controlled trial | Health and Medical Research Fund | CHENG Ho Yu | 2020–2022 | 
| Building resilience and reducing burnout in frontline nurses combating COVID-19 | ETH Zurich Special COVID-19 Call for Project Grants | CHONG Yuen Yu, Connie | 2020–2021 | 
Selected Publications
| Selected Publications | 
|---|
| Ho, K. H. M., Mak, A. K. P., Chung, R. M. W., Leung, D., Chiang, V. C. L., & Cheung, D. S. K. (2022). Implications of COVID-19 on the loneliness of older adults in residential care homes. Qualitative Health Research, 32(2), 279-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211050910 | 
| Chong, Y. Y., Chien, W. T., Cheng, H. Y., Lamnisos, D., ??ubenko, J., Presti, G., . . . Kassianos, A. P. (2021). Patterns of psychological responses among the public during the early phase of COVID-19: A cross-regional analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), 4143. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084143 | 
| Chong, Y. Y., Chien, W. T., Cheng, H. Y., Kassianos, A. P., Gloster, A. T., & Karekla, M. (2021). Can psychological flexibility and prosociality mitigate illness perceptions towards COVID-19 on mental health? A cross-sectional study among Hong Kong adults. Globalization and Health, 17(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00692-6 | 
| Ho, K. H. M., Cheung, D. S. K., Lee, P. H., Lam, S. C., & Kwan, R. Y. C. (2021). Co-living with migrant domestic workers is associated with a lower level of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study. Health and Social Care in the community. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13520 | 
| Hung, M. S. Y., Lam, S. K. K., Chan, L. C. K., Liu, S. P. S. & Chow, M. C. M. (2021). The psychological and life impacts on women in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health, 18, 6734. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136734 | 
| Chien, W. T., Chow, K. M., Chong, Y. Y., Bressington, D., Choi, K. C., & Chan, C. W. H. (2020). The role of five facets of mindfulness in a mindfulness-based psychoeducation intervention for people with recent-onset psychosis on mental and psychosocial health outcomes. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00177 | 
| Chien, W. T., Thompson, D. R., Fong Leung, S., & Bressington, D. (2020). Quality of life, symptom severity and level of functioning in people with severe mental illness ready for hospital discharge. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12703 | 
| Chong, Y. Y., Chien, W. T., Cheng, H. Y., Chow, K. Y., Kassianos, A. P., Karekla, M., & Gloster, A. (2020). The role of illness perceptions, coping, and self-efficacy on adherence to precautionary measures for COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 6540. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186540 | 
| Gloster, A. T., Lamnisos, D., Lubenko, J., Presti, G., Squatrito, V., Constantinou, M., . . . Chong, Y. Y., Chien, W. T., Cheng, H. Y., … Karekla, M. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: An international study. PloS One, 15(12), e0244809. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244809 | 
| Lam, S. K. K., Hung, M. S. Y., & Chien, W. T. (2020). Uncertainty surrounding the use of face masks in the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 108, 103651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103651 | 
| Lam, S. K. K., Kwong, E. W. Y., Hung, M. S. Y., & Chien, W. T. (2020). Investigating the strategies adopted by emergency nurses to address uncertainty and change in the event of emerging infectious diseases: A grounded theory study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), 2490. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072490 | 
| Chien, W. T., Cheng, H. Y., McMaster, T. W., Yip, A. L. K., & Wong, J. C. L. (2019). Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based psychoeducation group programme for early-stage schizophrenia: An 18-month randomised controlled trial. Schizophrenia Research, 212, 140–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.053 | 
| Chien, W. T., Cheung, E. F. C., Mui, J. H. C., Gray, R., & Ip, G. (2019). Adherence therapy for schizophrenia: A randomised controlled trial. Hong Kong Medical Journal, 25 Suppl 2(1), 4–9. https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v25%20Suppl%202n1/4.htm | 
| Chien, W. T., Clifton, A. V., Zhao, S., & Lui, S. (2019). Peer support for people with schizophrenia or other serious mental illness. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4(4), Cd010880. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010880.pub2 | 
| Ho, K. H. M., Chiang, V. C. L., Leung, D., & Cheung, D. S. K. (2019). A feminist phenomenology on the emotional labor and morality of live-in migrant care workers caring for older people in the community. BMC Geriatrics, 19(1), 314. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1352-3 | 
| Ho, K. H .M., Chiang, V. C. L., Leung, D., & Ku, B. H. B. (2018). When foreign domestic helpers care for and about older people in their homes: I am a maid or a friend. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 5, 2333393617753906. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393617753906 | 
| Waye, M. M. Y., & Cheng, H. Y. (2018). Genetics and epigenetics of autism: A review. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 72(4), 228–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12606 | 
| Chien, W. T., Bressington, D. T., Yip, A., & Karatzias, T. (2017). An international multi-site, randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based psychoeducation group programme for people with schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine, 47(12), 2081–2096. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717000526 | 
Knowledge Transfer Activities
In the Press/Media Interviews:
- 鄭可瑜(2021年8月20日)。〈關愛自己與心率變異性〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂(2021年1月8日)。〈新冠疫症反思與前瞻 〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 陳裕麗、趙雅宜、劉莉(2020 年11月5日)。〈長者精神健康〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 鄭可瑜、莊婉瑜(2020 年10月30日)。〈抗疫疲勞不疲勞〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂、謝文琪(2020 年7月2日)。〈維護個人精神健康〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂(2020 年3月20日)。〈情緒常起伏是否精神病〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂、莊婉瑜(2019 年11月15日)。〈與負面想法可共存?〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂(2019 年7月26日)。 〈正念與情緒管理〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
- 錢惠堂、李妍(2019 年6月13日)。〈全民精神健康促進知多少〉。《信報財經新聞 》。
Health Resources Developed:
Health Talks/Workshops/Visits:


| Research Highlights | 
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													Cancer and Palliative Care												 | 
| Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Stroke Care | 
| Ageing, Behavioural and Mental Wellness | 
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| To Collaborate with Us | 
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															Prof. CHIEN Wai Tong
 
															Prof. CHENG Ho Yu
 
															 
								 
								
