Vicarious trauma, social media and recovery in Hong Kong

This Letter to the Editor reports early themes from a study run just after the November 2019 occupation of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Participants completed an anxiety scale and an interview in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Three themes emerged. First, second-hand or vicarious trauma showed up as anxiety, broken sleep, and a sense of hopelessness, even in people who had not been at the events. Second, social-media images and unchecked claims, shared again and again, made these feelings worse. Third, the mental-health needs of a diverse university were not being met. International students suffered most, cut off from routines and family. The authors call for culturally sensitive counselling, peer talk spaces, and using social media itself to rebuild community.