As our community processes the Tai Po fire, here are gentle, practical ways to care for your mental wellbeing amid this tragedy
Yesterday’s devastating fire in Hong Kong has left many of us feeling overwhelmed and anxious. In moments like these, it’s entirely natural to feel helpless or frightened or even angry. We just want to let you know that you’re not alone in feeling these things.
We are revisiting our conversation with Katie Leung and Medora Choi of Hong Kong’s mental health centre Mindish to help cope with the situation. Back in 2022, this is what they said to us, “Instead of letting your brain ruminate over worst-case scenarios, try and face your inner chatter and see what can be done to fix the worry instead. You are more resilient than you think you are.” “You’re likely not feeling that ‘happy’ in life right now, but here’s the thing—research shows that there is more to life than being happy,” adds Leung.
Read the full interview, which was published during Covid times, here.
We also looked back at our interview with Dr Hannah Reidy from Mind Hong Kong from 2020, when the pandemic was in full swing. Here’s what she said on how to manage anxiety, which still feels relevant to us. “There is a lot of information, and we aren’t sure what is right and what is wrong. [It’s important to] remind yourself that this will pass,” says Dr Reidy.
Read the full interview here.
Practical tips on how to manage anxiety
- Try a simple four-part breathing technique: inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. Repeat this cycle for at least five minutes. This technique sends calming signals to your brain and helps release tension throughout your body.
- Distancing yourself from the media can stop the spread of anxiety. While staying informed is important, constant exposure to distressing news fuels catastrophic thinking. Set specific times to check updates rather than scrolling endlessly.
- Connection matters profoundly during difficult times. Reach out to friends and family, even if it’s just a brief message or call.
- Simple daily practices can restore a sense of control when everything feels chaotic. Morning exercise, meditation and maintaining regular sleep patterns help both prevent and manage stress.
- Acknowledging your anger and other difficult emotions without lashing out aggressively is crucial.
This crisis will pass. In the meantime, be gentle with yourself, practise the self-care techniques that work for you and lean on your community. Let’s also pray for the Hong Kong firefighters, first-responders and the families who have been affected by the Tai Po fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
