Moving around Hong Kong during the past two weeks or so, it would be easy to think that there is a sharp line between those taking part in political protests and those that are not. The city has largely functioned as normal outside areas directly affected: a mark of Hong Kong’s resilience. But the reality is that political unrest in a community shakes even those not directly taking part, and we need to respond accordingly. A 2016 study (Ni et al) at the University of Hong Kong, using telephone interviews, found that major depression increased by 7 per cent in the months following the Occupy Central protests in 2014, and that the odds of experiencing depression were four times higher during and after the protests. Crucially, the increase in depressive symptoms was seen regardless of whether respondents directly took part in the protest movement. Two specific risk factors were highlighted in the study that predicted depressive symptoms, and both are highly relevant to the events so far this month. The first was sociopolitical conflict within families. The scale of the protests this month makes it inevitable that differences in views and values will have bubbled up around many family dinner tables. The second risk factor was exposure to online and social media content relating to protests. Hong Kong is generally celebrated as a peaceful and harmonious city, so to see footage of confrontations that conflict with our positive image of the city can inevitably trigger a flood of stress hormones. A 2017 study (Lau et al.) at Chinese University of Hong Kong found that, alongside conflict with peers, negative emotional responses to media reports and worries about safety predicted mental distress in the two weeks following Occupy Central. Don’t make police the enemy in wake of protests Adopting a “business as normal” attitude around the city may allow some of these feelings to fade, helping residents to feel that the city remains familiar and safe, despite any online or familial evidence to the contrary. But if we want to minimise incidences of mental distress and prevent tragedies of the sort that occurred in Admiralty last weekend, we must couple the business as usual approach with an extension of social support and kindness. Reassuringly, some NGOs have made efforts to provide emotional support to those affected by the protests. For example, the Red Cross set up a confidential dual-language psychological support helpline for those affected and, on June 16, an emotional support station was hosted in Causeway Bay by clinical psychologists that run the HK Psychologists Concern Facebook group. It is important that such initiatives be encouraged and expanded citywide. For all its ills, digital technology can help tackle mental illness Urgent public health responses are the norm when it comes to dealing with natural disasters or disease outbreaks. The evidence is emerging that the same may be necessary with political conflicts and social unrest. On a city level, Hong Kong ought to immediately respond with communications campaigns in public transport and media that provide emotional support helplines and drop-in counselling. On an individual and community level, we can look upon social tensions as an opportunity for dialogue and compassion. The famous quote attributed to Plato, “Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle”, can seem too dramatic in ordinary life. But in historic times for Hong Kong, such as these, it is a message that needs to be shared. Edward Pinkney, HKU alumni, Pok Fu Lam Red Cross Psychological Support Hotline: 3628 1180