Prof. Stella O Delivers Keynote Speech at the “Seminar on the Mental and Psychological Health of Children and Adolescents”
Prof. Stella O Delivers Keynote Speech at the "Seminar on the Mental and Psychological Health of Children and Adolescents"
20
Jun
20/06/2025
Prof. Stella O’s Keynote Speech titled “Absent but Implicit: Narrative Externalizing to Render Youth’s Agency Visible” was presented at the Seminar organised by the Conde S. Januário Hospital Authority and the Paediatric Specialist Association.
The Conde S. Januário Hospital Authority and the Paediatric Specialist Association recently held a “Seminar on the Mental and Psychological Health of Children and Adolescents” focused on the challenges and coping strategies for child and adolescent mental health in the digital age. The seminar was attended by over 180 experts.
Senior Lecturer Stella O Lai San from the Social Work Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) was invited to deliver a keynote speech, engaging in in-depth exchanges with participants for the well-being of children and adolescents.
In the opening address of the Seminar, Deputy Director of the Health Bureau, Kuok Cheong U, stated that the Macao SAR government places great importance on the mental health of children and adolescents. He emphasized the need for increased communication and companionship with the younger generation in a rapidly changing social environment, advocating for early emotional management skills development, and expressed the government’s commitment to collaborating with various sectors to foster a society that prioritises mental health.
Senior Lecturer Stella O delivered a lecture titled “Absent but Implicit: Narrative Externalizing to Render Youth’s Agency Visible”, proposing that to address the challenges brought by rapid societal changes, it is essential to invite the protagonists of life — youth and their families — to collaboratively tackle problems. She introduced the concept of externalization from narrative therapy, which helps individuals develop agency and exhibit wisdom in addressing challenges. While listening to the problems of individuals and their families, she emphasized the importance of valuing their beliefs, strategies, and hopes for life, which serve as interventions to restore personal subjectivity and sources of strength to resist challenges. Additionally, she highlighted the need to address the negative impacts of labeling and stigmatization on individuals.
The seminar covered multiple topics, including clinical medicine, psychological interventions, and social phenomena. Dr. Wong Fong Ian, Pediatric Director of Conde S. Januário Hospital, analyzed how the behavioral motivations and difficulties of “digital native” adolescents are hard to explain with traditional theories, noting that peer pressure, cyberbullying, and emotional virtualization in the digital era pose unique challenges. Dr. Ho Chi Veng, a local psychiatrist, shared insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms of child and adolescent behaviors, underscoring their importance for effective intervention strategies and enriching participants’ understanding. Psychotherapists Cheang Sut Ieng, Wong Wai Kei, and Pang Weng Si from the Health Bureau combined local case studies to highlight the significance of identifying early warning signs of child psychological issues.
Stella O expressed that participating in the seminar and exchanging ideas with experts from various regions was a valuable experience. She hopes to continue promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to contribute to improving the mental health of children and adolescents in the future.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at USJ Macao is committed to advancing innovative research and practice in the field of mental health, actively addressing the psychological challenges faced by children and adolescents through interdisciplinary collaboration, with the aim of nurturing professionals and enhancing community mental health awareness. This seminar, through diverse perspectives and professional dialogue, provided valuable insights for safeguarding the mental health of the younger generation in the digital age, fully demonstrating the societal commitment to this issue, which complements the faculty’s mission and contributes to the well-being of society.
