FSS Distinguished Visiting Scholar Seminar: “Applied psychology and public health: Adolescent depression as an example” by Prof. Joseph Tak Fai Lau on 18/10/2023 (Wed) 14:00-15:00 at E21B-G016

The FSS Distinguished Visiting Scholar Seminar on “Applied psychology and public health: Adolescent depression as an example” will be conducted by Prof. Joseph Tak Fai Lau. Details of the Workshop are as follows:

Date: 18 October 2023 (Wed)
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Venue: E21B-G016
Language: English

Please register by 17 October 2023 (Tue) 13:00:

https://forms.gle/UAMGBTNaibVNEERc8

 

Biography:
Prof. Joseph Tak Fai Lau is Guang Biao Chair Professor of the Zhejiang University. He received his master and PhD degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal Society of Medicine of the United Kingdom. He is a professor and leading talent in mental health and the director of the Public Mental Health Centre of the Wenzhou Medical University, and a chief scientist in social psychology of the Kangning Hospital (affiliated hospital of the Wenzhou Medical University). He is an emeritus professor, doctoral supervisor, and the founding director of the Center for Health Behaviours at the School of Public Health and Primary Care of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Moreover, he is currently a vice chair of the Division of Behavioral Health of the China Association of Preventive Medicine, an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University, an Overseas Renowned Professor of the Sun Yat-sen University, and serving in the editorial boards of multiple international magazines. He also served as an adjunct professor of the Peking Union Medical College, the Department of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Central South University. Prof. Lau was ranked 2765th among the 200,000 top 2% scientists in the world by the Stanford University in 2021, and is an internationally renowned behavioral and mental health expert. He received the Outstanding Scientist Award (being the only Chinese) and the International Collaboration Award from the International Society of Behavioral Medicine, which has member societies in 25 countries. He has received funding for more than 130 research projects, published about 700 SCI/SSCI journal articles (including Lancet, BMJ), and been cited for about 27,000 times, with an h-index of 80 (ResearchGate).

Abstract:
Adolescent depression is prevalent and consequential. Early prevention and interventions are warranted. The government also emphasizes such directions and has organized some universal screening in secondary schools. The efforts, however, need good integration of applied psychological and public health methods and expertise. The presentation gives a brief overview of some public health principles in screening and interventions. Some examples and focus group findings derived from some front line workers, as well as some potential issues, will be discussed in the presentation. The present case is one of the many that call for reflections of how applied psychology and public health, or public mental health, can be put into practice to support policies and make a difference in improving population mental health.