Event organization and partnership management

Since 2024, I have worked to establish the first research centre at Tung Wah College with Prof. Sally Chan and Prof. Alex Chan. The research centre works to translate effective digital mental health interventions to clinical and community settings and build research capacity within Tung Wah College to conduct socially relevant and high-impact mental health research projects.

To broaden researcher's awareness of leading digital mental health research, I have organized over 26 public lectures and technical workshops, including: 

• TRC-DMH Visiting Scholar Seminar Series: Advancing Mental Health Care Through Social Robotics by Prof. Wendy Moyle, Griffith University, 2 - 5 June 2025

• TRC-DMH Visiting Scholar Seminar Series: Mental Health and Clinical Virtual Reality by Prof. Albert "Skip" Rizzo, University of Southern California, 24 - 27 March 2025

• HKTDC International Medical and Healthcare Fair 2025, Maximizing the Real-World Potential of Digital Mental Health, Prof. Sally Chan, Prof Alex Chan, Prof. Rick Kwan, Tung Wah College, 26 May 2025

Therapeutic Immersive Virtual Reality System (TIVRS)

Since 2023, I have been involved in the TIVRS research project led by Prof. Rick Kwan and Prof. Sally Chan. The two-year project studies the mental health effects of a TIVRS system on older adults living in long-term care facilities. Led by trained young volunteers, the TIVRS system was deployed at 33 care facilities, delivering reminiscence and nature-based immersive scenarios to older adults with mobility issues.

We collected well-being and life quality measures and conducted semi-structured group interviews during the randomized controlled trial from 2023-2025: 

• RYC Kwan, F Ng, M Lai, JJ Su, JLC Lee, A Lei, and S Chan, (2025) The effects of a therapeutic immersive virtual reality programme on the mental health of residential care home residents living with physical disabilities: A multi-centre randomised controlled trial

• RYC Kwan, F Ng, LCW Lam, RC Yung, OSK Sin, and S Chan (2023), A study protocol of a multi-centre RCT: The effects of therapeutic virtual reality experience to promote mental well-being in older people living with physical disabilities in long-term care facilities

Digital Buddy: Digital Inclusion for Older Adults

Since 2022, I have been part of the Digital Buddy Programme since the early conception of the mental health prevention and promotion project for older adults. This project promotes mental health awareness and self-efficacy in older adults through a six-month intergenerational mentorship programme and an e-learning mobile app. Older participants learn about operating systems, applications,  data management, and personal security; trained students lead older participants to discuss stress management skills, well-being strategies, stigmas, and common misconceptions. 

We measured well-being index, depressive symptoms levels, and conducted semi-structured group interviews during the randomized controlled trial from 2022-2024: 

• RYC Kwan, F Ng, M Lai, and S Chan (2025) The effects of Digital Buddy programme on older adults’ mental well-being: A multi-centre, cluster randomized controlled trial. Digital Health

• RYC Kwan, F Ng, M Lai, and S Chan (2023) The effects of Digital Buddy programme on older adults’ mental well-being: study protocol for a multi-centre, cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 24, 95.

Generative AI for mental health prevention and promotion

Since 2024, I have been working on two research projects studying the use of generative AI in preventative mental health services for emerging adults. We believe that generative AI can increase client engagement and confidence in the treatment plan by making prevention-based services more meaningful. We are working with industry stakeholders and clients to co-design psychosocial interventions for healthcare students and adolescents with special education needs. 

• Investigating the effects of an AI-powered Mental Health Kiosk on Hong Kong nursing students' stress level and help seeking intentions 

• A study on the effects of a robot-led self-compassion programme for adolescents with special education needs 

Bayesian nonparametrics and social policy 

I trained to conduct bayesian nonparametrics, mutli-regression modelling techniques with Dr. Lee Siu Yau at the Education University of Hong Kong. The analyses contributed to evidence-based recommendations for social inclusion policies and immigration policies in Hong Kong. You can find the analyses and techniques I've worked on best represented here: 

• SY Lee (2025) Procedure Matters: The Distinct Attitudinal Feedback Effects of Immigration Policy. Political Behavior  47, 191–215. 

• SY Lee, S Yuen, NHK Or, EW Cheng, and RPH Yue (2022) COVID-19 Vulnerability, Policy Feedback, and Support for Immigration: Evidence from Asia. British Journal of Social Psychology  61 (4): 1124-1143.

• SY Lee,  IFS Ng, and HY Xiao (2024) A new survey instrument for tracking public opinion on social inclusion. Social Indicators Research 171: 677–699.