Events

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SAC Health Talk Series 2025

Sponsored by Gilead Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline plc, SAC held a health education seminar themed "Navigating the Psychological Challenges of Chronic Illness" on 16th August. We were honoured to invite Mr. Tony Li, a clinical psychologist from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as our guest speaker. Mr Li shared with attendees how to cope with the psychological impacts of chronic illness and provided practical strategies for psychological adjustment. Mr Li first guided participants to understand the various physical and mental effects of chronic illness. Together with the audience, he led exercises to deconstruct psychological responses by observing one’s thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical reactions to events, to enhance self-awareness. He then introduced acceptance exercises to explore personal psychological regulation in the context of chronic illness. The seminar also featured special sharing of life tips for managing chronic illness and the "Three Steps for Facing Difficulties": pause and take a moment when problems arise, calm down and clarify your psychological reactions, then set a direction; finally, accept imperfect outcomes. To conclude, Mr Li led the participants in a relaxation breathing exercise to help alleviate stress.

SAC Health Talk Series 2025

Sponsored by Gilead Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline plc, SAC held a health seminar themed "Mind Matters: Cognitive Impairment and Personal Psychological Care” on 12th July, 2025. We were honored to invite Mr. Suen Hin, Andy, a clinical psychologist in Princess Margaret Hospital, as our guest speaker. Mr. Suen provided attendees with detailed information on cognitive function. He first introduced the six main categories of cognitive function, e.g. complex attention, executive function, learning & memory, language, perceptuomotor function, and social cognition, followed by the relationship between HIV and cognitive function, as well as HIV related cognitive impairment, e.g. decline in processing speed, motor coordination difficulties, memory difficulties, and emotional blunting. Furthermore, Mr. Suen explained on how clinical psychologists assist patients through cognitive function assessment and cognitive stimulation therapy, as well as teaching personal prevention methods, such as attending follow-up appointment and taking medications adherently, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, and keeping our brain stimulated.

SAC Health Talk Series 2025

On May 17, SAC held a health seminar titled "Holistic Senior Wellness." We were honored to invite Dr. Ng Siu-tim, a specialist in infectious diseases from the Special Preventive Programme, Department of Health, as our guest speaker. Dr. Ng shared the information of the comprehensive management of HIV, highlighting how antiretroviral therapy suppresses viral load to achieve U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable), and stressed the importance of managing comorbidities, mental health, and vaccinations to support healthy aging. The seminar was lively, with active discussions fostering greater understanding and acceptance of HIV.