HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing presents souvenir to Dr Mok Wing-si, President of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health, in gratitude for her valuable insights. Dr Mok and Prof. Lam pose for a group photo with Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development), and Prof. Janet Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
In his welcome remarks, HKMU President Prof. Lam Kwan-sing highlights the University's commitment to supporting students' physical and mental well-being.
Dr Joyce Mok Wing-si, President of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health, shares her clinical experience in infant mental health (IMH) services and research findings.
Dr Mok engages in dialogue with Prof. Janet Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held its fourth “Talk of the Metropolis” of the year today (6 November), featuring Dr Joyce Mok Wing-si, President of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health. In her talk, titled “From Cradle to Connection: Infant Mental Health in Hong Kong”, Dr Mok shared her clinical experience and research findings with over 200 HKMU students, staff, alumni and members of the public in an accessible manner, with the aim of raising awareness among caregivers and society about the importance of early childhood mental health.
Dr Mok is an experienced clinical psychologist, who has served in public hospitals for over 30 years. She has extensive clinical experience in infant mental health (IMH) services. Her research specialises in infant and early childhood development, focusing on mental health and developmental disorders.
Children's mental health remains a focus of public attention. Research in Hong Kong indicates that adverse childhood experiences can have long-term effects on mental health, increasing the likelihood of anxiety and depression. During her talk, Dr Mok emphasised that mental health is fundamental to healthy physical and psychological development in infants and that its importance should not be overlooked. She stated, “Early parent-child relationships have a lasting impact on infants' brain development, physical health and future mental well-being.”
Dr Mok encouraged new parents to adopt a proactive and sensitive approach to parenting. She advised them to actively observe subtle signals from their infants, respond sensitively, encourage confident exploration, and interpret and address signals when children exhibit problematic behaviours.
“A strong parent-child relationship is key to the healthy mental development of children,” she said. “Early identification of risk factors aids in prevention and timely professional intervention, laying a solid foundation for a child's growth.”
HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing expressed gratitude to Dr Mok for her insights and engaging dialogue with Prof. Janet Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Prof. Lam highlighted that mental health issues among students are a significant public concern, and emphasised that the University's commitment to supporting students' physical and mental well-being.
In line with this commitment, the University introduced a compulsory, accredited “Mental Health First Aid” course for all first-year students in September last year. He said, “We are dedicated to creating a supportive and caring campus environment. Through this initiative, we hope to cultivate students' resilience and empathy, helping them face future challenges while also promoting the spirit of helping oneself and others.”
He added that the importance of mental health extends beyond young people; mental well-being during infancy and early childhood is equally crucial, as it serves as the foundation of psychological development throughout life.
Dr Mok actively participates in international organisations related to the field of IMH. Additionally, she is the founding president of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health. Her most recent publication was a chapter on IMH development in Hong Kong, featured in the WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (2024), by the World Association for Infant Mental Health. The handbook serves as an essential reference for researchers, clinicians and all professionals engaged in infant and early childhood development, public health and related fields.
The “Talk of the Metropolis” series aims to provide a platform for people from all walks of life to be inspired by the views of experts and scholars, thereby having a positive impact on social development. All talks in the series are broadcast on the University’s “Knowledge for All” programme on Sunday mornings on TVB Pearl. To learn more about the public lecture series and watch past videos, please visit https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/pao/talk-of-the-metropolis/.
HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing presents souvenir to Dr Mok Wing-si, President of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health, in gratitude for her valuable insights. Dr Mok and Prof. Lam pose for a group photo with Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development), and Prof. Janet Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held its fourth “Talk of the Metropolis” of the year today (6 November), featuring Dr Joyce Mok Wing-si, President of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health. In her talk, titled “From Cradle to Connection: Infant Mental Health in Hong Kong”, Dr Mok shared her clinical experience and research findings with over 200 HKMU students, staff, alumni and members of the public in an accessible manner, with the aim of raising awareness among caregivers and society about the importance of early childhood mental health.
Dr Mok is an experienced clinical psychologist, who has served in public hospitals for over 30 years. She has extensive clinical experience in infant mental health (IMH) services. Her research specialises in infant and early childhood development, focusing on mental health and developmental disorders.
Children's mental health remains a focus of public attention. Research in Hong Kong indicates that adverse childhood experiences can have long-term effects on mental health, increasing the likelihood of anxiety and depression. During her talk, Dr Mok emphasised that mental health is fundamental to healthy physical and psychological development in infants and that its importance should not be overlooked. She stated, “Early parent-child relationships have a lasting impact on infants' brain development, physical health and future mental well-being.”
Dr Mok encouraged new parents to adopt a proactive and sensitive approach to parenting. She advised them to actively observe subtle signals from their infants, respond sensitively, encourage confident exploration, and interpret and address signals when children exhibit problematic behaviours.
“A strong parent-child relationship is key to the healthy mental development of children,” she said. “Early identification of risk factors aids in prevention and timely professional intervention, laying a solid foundation for a child's growth.”
HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing expressed gratitude to Dr Mok for her insights and engaging dialogue with Prof. Janet Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Prof. Lam highlighted that mental health issues among students are a significant public concern, and emphasised that the University's commitment to supporting students' physical and mental well-being.
In line with this commitment, the University introduced a compulsory, accredited “Mental Health First Aid” course for all first-year students in September last year. He said, “We are dedicated to creating a supportive and caring campus environment. Through this initiative, we hope to cultivate students' resilience and empathy, helping them face future challenges while also promoting the spirit of helping oneself and others.”
He added that the importance of mental health extends beyond young people; mental well-being during infancy and early childhood is equally crucial, as it serves as the foundation of psychological development throughout life.
Dr Mok actively participates in international organisations related to the field of IMH. Additionally, she is the founding president of the Hong Kong Association for Infant Mental Health. Her most recent publication was a chapter on IMH development in Hong Kong, featured in the WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (2024), by the World Association for Infant Mental Health. The handbook serves as an essential reference for researchers, clinicians and all professionals engaged in infant and early childhood development, public health and related fields.
The “Talk of the Metropolis” series aims to provide a platform for people from all walks of life to be inspired by the views of experts and scholars, thereby having a positive impact on social development. All talks in the series are broadcast on the University’s “Knowledge for All” programme on Sunday mornings on TVB Pearl. To learn more about the public lecture series and watch past videos, please visit https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/pao/talk-of-the-metropolis/.
20 Nov 2025
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