Movember: how one man’s mental health issues and dedication to raising awareness saw him become ambassador for the male health movement
- A panic attack in 2013 led Hongkonger Aaron Stadlin-Robbie to re-examine his lifestyle and create a mental health podcast
- He says Covid-19 has put mental health under the microscope and it is more important than ever for people to educate themselves to identify the red flags
In 2013, Aaron Stadlin-Robbie was crossing a street in Shanghai when he suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
“I had no idea what was happening – my heart was racing and I had this overwhelming feeling of fear,” says the 33-year-old Hongkonger.
What he experienced that day was anxiety and a panic attack, although he was initially misdiagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency. Little did he know how it would shape his future and lead to the launch of his podcast, Talking Mental.
“I started the podcast as a way to educate myself. It was a way for me to meet experts in different fields and to try to understand my own issues,” he says, adding he now hosts talks at schools and companies.
Last month, Stadlin-Robbie completed a walk and talk around Hong Kong, covering 150km (93 miles) in seven days to raise money for mental health charities Mind HK and the Mental Health Foundation. Along the way, he interviewed people about mental health, including US speed skater and eight-time Winter Olympic medallist Apolo Ohno, author of the bestselling book Zero Regrets , who dialled in from his home in Los Angeles, California. Stadlin-Robbie now wants to make it a global event.
