With a strong passion for digital health, I am eager to participate in the Medicine Track of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 to explore the intersection of technology and healthcare. The forum presents a unique opportunity to engage with esteemed Shaw Laureates and fellow researchers, fostering discussions on latest discoveries and developments in medicine. Additionally, the forum will tremendously support my career development by offering potential career opportunities and invaluable guidance from opinion leaders and experts in the field of medicine, who would serve as role models in shaping my future career.
I am also eager to learn diverse perspectives from other researchers, which will expand my knowledge of different health-related topics. My research focuses on older adults' use of digital mental health tools, aiming to enhance accessibility, usability, and effectiveness for this marginalized population. By participating in this prestigious event, I hope to share my research approach, exchange insights with global experts, and contribute to shaping a more inclusive digital health ecosystem. I am excited about the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and drive meaningful change through the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025.

My research interest focuses on older adults’ use of digital mental health tools, which is highly relevant to the ageing society in Hong Kong. There is an increasing burden of mental disorders in older adults. While more digital health tools and interventions are available, the one-size-fits-all approach may not be as effective for older adults as for the younger population. My research (1) explored older adults' views and experiences of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) through a systematic review, (2) systematically assessed the existing depression self-care apps’ applicability to older adults, and (3) qualitatively explored Singaporean older adults’ perceptions of digital mental health tools (DMHTs). I found that older adults’ use of DMHIs were affected by negative perceptions about ageing and mental health, digital divide, personal characteristics, interpersonal influences, intervention features, technology-related factors, and the benefits and risks of using DMHIs. Existing depression self-care apps had limited applicability to older adults due to lack of relevant content and accessibility enhancers. Finally, older adults recommended DMHTs adopt a simple design, present information in a multilingual format, and be implemented with sufficient support. The findings highlight important barriers to be addressed and provide implications for developing future DMHTs for older adults.