The No. 5 alarm blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caused extensive community loss and posed serious psychological challenges for adults and children alike. The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has always been committed to promoting mental health education and actively collaborates with various sectors of society to safeguard the growth and well-being of students. Under the leadership of Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice President (Academic) and Chair Professor of Teacher Education, and Professor Susanna Yeung Siu-sze, Associate Vice President (Quality Assurance) and Professor of Department of Psychology, the School Partnership and Field Experience Office organised online seminars to provide teachers and parents with professional knowledge and support strategies, helping children and adolescents cope with the psychological impact of the Tai Po No. 5 alarm fire and working together to protect students’ mental health.

The first seminar was held on the afternoon of 27 November, featuring Assistant Professor and Educational Psychologist Dr Wilbert Law and Assistant Professor Dr Trevor Yung Wai-kit, both from the Department of Psychology at EdUHK. Targeted at teachers and school staff, the seminar covered common psychological reactions among students after disasters, crisis assessment methods, and basic support strategies that educators can adopt. The speakers combined professional expertise with practical experience to help educators identify students’ emotional needs early and provide appropriate psychological support.

On the same evening, EdUHK hosted a second seminar for parents, delivered by Clinical Psychologist Professor Esther Lau Yuet-ying and Public Mental Health Specialist Professor Hou Wai-kai, both from the Department of Psychology at EdUHK. The seminar offered comprehensive content, including typical responses of children and adolescents to trauma, crisis assessment and preventive measures, as well as communication and coordination between parents and schools. The speakers provided concrete advice and practical methods on how parents can collaborate with schools to jointly support their children’s mental health.

The third seminar was held on the morning of November 28 (Friday), with the theme "Walk Together After the Fire – Emotional Support and Psychological Recovery for Secondary Students." The seminar is primarily intended for secondary students in the Tai Po District, and teachers are also welcome to join in order to better understand students’ needs. Professor Esther Lau Yuet-ying, discuss with students how to recognize their own emotional needs and will provide methods for self-regulation and psychological recovery, helping to enhance psychological resilience and supporting secondary students in Tai Po through difficult times.

All three seminars, that were hosted by Director of School Partnership and Field Experience Dr Kevin Kam Wai-keung, attracted nearly 1,200 principals, teachers, parents and secondary students. Through these seminars, EdUHK hopes to provide professional and timely support to students and families affected by the incident. Both seminars featured interactive Q&A sessions, allowing participants to consult experts on real-life situations and obtain advice. Recordings of the seminars have been uploaded to the School Partnership and Field Experience Office website for viewing: https://shorturl.at/XnmoS. EdUHK will continue to organise activities for supporting schools, parents, and students in facing challenges together and promoting the mental health of the community.

In addition, to further assist parents and teachers in mastering practical emotional management strategies, the university’s Centre for Child and Family Science has published 《情緒有「轉」機 – 如何幫助孩子轉出正向情緒》(Chinese version only) for reference: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KkP2Mfgx30qYi18E219fnkGDMXl8Vef3/view?usp=drive_link

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