On March 1, 2023, Hong Kong lifted its Covid-19 mask mandate, which had been in place for around two and a half years. That same day, writer and psychotherapist Kate Whitehead ran into a publisher for Hong Kong University Press, who asked if she had any ideas for a psychology book. Her mind immediately jumped to a book about how the pandemic affected the city.
Whitehead’s book Pandemic Minds: Covid-19 and Mental Health in Hong Kong was released on May 10. It documents Hongkongers’ experiences during the pandemic – Whitehead conducted 40 in-depth interviews with people from all walks of life, including children, the elderly, individuals of different wealth statuses, mothers, doctors, and pilots – and gives tips on mental well-being.
Whitehead, who has lived in Hong Kong since she was seven years old, said this project allowed her to give back to the city she loves.
“The book is intended to be a resource and to help people process trauma and to prepare for the future,” she said. “It’s meant to be a healing book.”
“Pandemic Minds: Covid-19 and Mental Health in Hong Kong” was written by Kate Whitehead. Credit: HKU Press
Looking for clarity
In the chapter “School Closures,” Whitehead tells the story of a young Hongkonger named Marco. Marco was only three years old when the pandemic first kicked off, and he endured nearly two years of online schooling. When he spoke to her in 2023, he was six years old.
“He became very anxious about going out,” she said. “It took him quite a while to adjust from Zoom classes to going back [to campus].”
She said his experience mirrored that of many children, adding that some were too nervous to take off their masks once the mandate ended. “Taking the mask off was difficult because they [were] told they’re safe with the mask on.”
Whitehead explained that children are still trying to understand and make sense of the pandemic: “There’s not a lot of clarity about what was happening. Their parents and people around them were getting very worried, [saying] ‘Just put a mask on, and you’ll be safe’. Then they’re suddenly told that you can take it off, and everything’s all right.”
The impact of the pandemic might look different in teenagers, whose social anxiety “is quite high already,” Whitehead said. She explained teens felt safe wearing their masks and might feel “exposed” or “self-conscious” upon taking them off, not wanting their peers to look at them.
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Sharing your struggles
A key takeaway from the book is that it is important to talk about your struggles.
“One of the best ways of reducing stigma [around mental health] is by people telling their stories,” Whitehead said. “That’s why half the book ended up being these first-person accounts.”
“When you hear people’s stories, you realise … everybody was struggling.”
According to a 2020 study by the NGO Save the Children, referenced in Whitehead’s book, 39 per cent of the city’s primary and secondary students showed symptoms of mental health disorders, while 35 per cent felt their home environment was tense or scary during school closures.
“Mental health problems are now higher than during the pandemic … we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
Whitehead said she hopes her book can be used to spark conversations about mental health. Photo: Handout
Each chapter of her book includes strategies for coping with obstacles that arose during the pandemic. For example, at the end of the “School Closures” chapter, Whitehead encourages students to stick to a routine, ask for help when needed, incorporate gentle movement into their day, and get fresh air.
The final chapter, “Ways Forward”, uses the acronym ACCESS to highlight six ways to improve mental health in the city: anti-stigma, communication, compassion, education, social vulnerability, and support.
Whitehead encouraged youngsters to discuss their feelings about the pandemic at home or school, noting how people can benefit from listening to and reflecting on others’ stories. She hopes her book can be part of the process: “I think a book is a really good … conversation starter.”
She said that when it comes to discussing the pandemic, you don’t need to have all the answers – most people just need someone to listen to them.
“It can be so important to hear somebody and validate what they’re feeling,” she said. “[To say] ‘Yes, I see that you’re struggling. And yes, that is hard.’ Just listen nonjudgmentally.”
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