How Hong Kong teen’s struggle with anxiety led to student mental health campaign

A Hong Kong student who once struggled with anxiety and perfectionism has turned her experience into a campaign to raise awareness of mental health.

Charlotte Yuen Cheuk-lam, founder of Be Positive HK, is a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the youth category for her leadership in promoting empathy and open dialogue among students.

Yuen, 18, said that when she started secondary school, she felt trapped in a cycle of pressure and self-doubt. “I was anxious about exams and couldn’t stop thinking about failing,” she said.

The turning point came when she sought help from her school social worker.

Through counselling, she realised that mental health was not something to hide; it was something to talk about.

“I learned that sharing my story doesn’t make me weak,” she said. “It helps me and others feel less alone.”