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Prof. LO Ka Ying, Heidi 羅嘉瑩

MBChB (CUHK), MRCPsych, FHKCPsych, FHKAM (Psychiatry)

Clinical Assistant Professor

Distinguished Young Fellow, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine

Member, Young Fellow Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Member, Public Awareness Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Member, Research Committee, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists

Mental Health Youth Ambassador, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists 

Panel Consultant Member, The University Health Service

Wellness Director, Teaching and Engagement, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong 

Academic Advisor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

Special Interest Group of Mindfulness, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

Facilitator, Mindful U

Editorial Board Member, East Asian Archives of Psychiatry 

 

Research Publications

🔗Research Gate Profile

🔗Google Scholar Profile
Email: lokaying@hku.hk

ORCID: 0000-0003-2551-5230

The HKU Scholars Hub Page address: https://hub.hku.hk/cris/rp/rp03086

​Dr Lo leads several ongoing projects for hands-on research opportunities. To date, three alumni from the team have gone on to study master in clinical/educational psychology in Hong Kong. If you are passionate about mental health research and consider applying as a volunteer research assistant/ pursue MPhil studies, you are welcome to reach out Dr Heidi Lo in email with CV and sample of research work.

Biography:

Before her current appointment in 2023, she received Fellowship from the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in 2021. Dr. Lo directs a youth mental health clinic that addresses mood disturbances and complex sociocultural challenges in persons aged 18-25, focusing on their unique developmental and transition-related needs. As Director of Wellness within the faculty, Dr. Lo is dedicated to enhancing the mental well-being of university students and leads public initiatives like @deer.emo to promote accessible mental health awareness and advocacy.
 
Dr Heidi Lo is psychiatry specialist and a researcher and a teacher in the Faculty of Medicine, her research interest is in clinical psychiatry and advancing treatment, especially in depression and other mood issues. She used experience sampling methodology, digital interventions and neuromodulation techniques. Her accomplishments include receiving the President’s Prize from the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in 2021 , the Fellowship Award from the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2024 for her advocacy in suicide prevention., and was elected Distinguished Young Fellow in the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in 2025. She has special interest in mindfulness and youth mental health. She also leads initiatives on mental health literacy and research translation, working to bring evidence-based knowledge to the public and hopes to cut through the noise of today’s content-saturated metaverse.

Research Interests and Focus:

  • Depression and other mood disorders  

  • Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation

  • Suicide Prevention

  • Stigma and Mental Health Promotion  

Research Areas (Selected Publications):

Depression and other mood disorders​

  • Differential effects of mindfulness and grit on positive mental health outcomes in major depressive and bipolar disorders: A moderation analysis using an ecological momentary assessment approach. Jin JXH, Lo HKY (Corresponding author), Tsui IWT, Ng TK, Chung KF, Yuen SY, Ho FYY, Wong CSM, Lee CT, Poon CY, Teopiz KM, Dri C, McIntyre RS. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2025; Article 391:119969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119969 (*Corresponding)

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  • Bidirectional associations among positive affect, anhedonia and meaning in life during major depressive episode: ecological momentary assessment study in unipolar and bipolar individuals and healthy controls. Lo HKY (Co-Corresponding author), McIntyre RS, Tsui IWT, et al.. BJPsych Open. 2025;11(4):e141. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.10067

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  • Ecological momentary interventions for depression: A systematic review and meta-analaysis. Yuen SY, Lo HKY (Corresponding author),  Jin JXH, Ho FYY, Poon CY, Yeung WF, Yu BYM, Lee CT, Myin-Germeys I, Chung KF. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2026; 121547 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121547 (*Corresponding)

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  • Prediction of self-harm in people with incident depression: development and validation of risk prediction models. Lo HKY, Chu IWL, Chan JKN, Wong CSM, Chang WC. Molecular Psychiatry. 2026; 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-026-03555-x

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  • Excess mortality and life-years lost in people diagnosed with depression: A 20-Year population-based cohort study of 126,573 depressed individuals followed for 1,139,073 persons-years. Lo HKY, Chan JKN, Wong CSM, Chung KF, Correll CU, Solmi M, Baum LW, Thach TQ, Sham PC, and Chang WC, 2025. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 91, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.10.009

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  • COVID-19 perseverative cognition and depressive symptoms in Hong Kong: The moderating role of resilience, loneliness and coping strategies. Lo HKY, Wong GHS , Chan JKN,  et al.,  2023. Journal of Affective Disorders. 337, 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.058.

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  • Temporal trends of antidepressant utilisation patterns in children and adolescents in Hong Kong: a 14-year population-based study with joinpoint regression analysis. Lo HKY , Tong CHY, Chan JKN, et al., 2023.  Journal of Affective Disorders. 344, 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.055

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  • Sleep diary-derived parameters and sleep measures mediate the efficacy of trans diagnostic sleep and circadian intervention for depression. Poon CY, Lo HKY, Yeung WF, Chung KF, Chan CS, Harvey A, Ho FYY., 2026.  Psychological Medicine. 56: e97. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291726103481

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  • Antidepressants and risk of mortality in people with depressive disorder and co-occurring type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 20-year population-based cohort study.  Ho MTH, Chan JKN, Lo HKY, et al. ,2026. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1159/000550667

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  • Incidence of gynecological cancers following prolactin-increasing antipsychotic use: a population cohort study. Lai FTT, Tian W, Hu Y, Wei C, Sun Q, Song S, Zhou L, Wei Y, Luo S, Ng APP, Chan JKN, Lo HKY, Chan EWY, Wong SSC, Chang WC, 2025. World Psychiatry. Oct;24(3):447-448. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21365

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  • All-cause and cause-specific mortality in people with depression: a large-scale systematic review and meta-analysis of relative risk and aggravating or attenuating factors.Joe Chan KN, M Solmi, Christoph U Correll, Lo HKY, WY Chan, LT Choo, Eric TH Lai, Corine SM Wong, WC Chang.World Psychiatry, 2025: 24(3), 404-421. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21354  

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Youth Mental Health 

  • Temporal trends of antidepressant utilisation patterns in children and adolescents in Hong Kong: a 14-year population-based study with joinpoint regression analysis. Lo HKY, Tong CCHY, Chan JKN, Kam CTK, Wong CSM, Cheng CPW, Ho C, Leung BMH, Wong WSH, Yu ZHS, Chang WC , 2023.  Journal of Affective Disorders. 344, 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.055 

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  • The Relationship Between Parenting Style, Child Behaviour and Socioeconomic Status: A Mediation Analysis. Fong TKH, Lo HKY, Cheng CPW, Tong HS, Lui WYV, Chan PKL , 2025. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 8, 1639. www.doi.org/10.29011/2688-9501.101639  

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  • Temporal trends of the utilization patterns of sedative-hypnotic medications in children, adolescents and young adults: a 21-year population-based study with joinpoint regression analysis. Kwok CCT*, Lo HKY*, Chan CY*, Chan JKN, Wong CSM, Cheng CPW, Ho C, Leung BMH, Wong WSH, Yu ZHS, Lee EHM, Chang WC, 2025. BMC Psychiatry. 25, 98. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06515-x

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  • The Effectiveness of a New Parent Education Intervention Program for Primary School-Age Children and Parents in Hong Kong. Lo HKY, Fong TKH, Chan PKL, Cheng CPW, Lui WYL, Wong YP, 2025.  PLOS ONE. 20 (9) : e0331308 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331308

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Neuroimaging and neuromodulation

  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the Treatment of Youth Depression: Integrating Literature Review Insights in a Pilot Clinical Trial. Lo HKY(Corresponding author), Yuen SY, Tsui WT, Yeung WF, Ruan JY, Wong CSM, Jin JXH, Lee CT, Chung KF, 2025. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 14(9): 3152. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm140931522

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  • Enhanced Cognition and Modulation of Brain Connectivity in Mild Neurocognitive Disorder: The Promise of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation. Lo HKY, Fong TKH, Cheung T, Ngan STJ, Lui WYV, Chan WC, Wong CSM, Wong TKT, Cheng CPW, 2024.  Biomedicines 12, no. 9: 2081. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12092081

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  • Concurrent anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive training to improve cognition in schizophrenia. Lo HKY*, Hopman HJ*, Chan SC, Chau WHS, Cheng CPW, Cheung KY, Lam HHD, Mo YM, Tse LC, Wong WHO, Wong YC, Chan SMS, 2022. Schizophrenia Research. 241, 184-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.026

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Suicide Prevention

  • Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in the general public during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Lo HKY, Chan JKN, Wong CSM, Wong GHS, Lei JHC, So YK, Fung VSC, Chu RST, Ling R, Chung AKK, Lee KCK, Cheng CPW, Chan WC, Chang WC , 2024. Frontiers Psychiatry. 14:1252600.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1252600

 

  • The  prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Lo HKY, Chan JKN, Yip EWC, Chui EMC, Fung VSC, Wong CSM, Chu RST, So YK, Chan JMT, Chung AKK, Lee KCK, Cheng CPW, Law CW, Chan WC, Chang WC, 2023. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 77, 4-11.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.485  

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  • ​Association between loneliness and suicidality among general populations and persons with depressive and bipolar disorders: A systematic review. Lu A, Chan A, Menon T, Le GH, Wong S, Ho R, Lo HKY, Rhee TG, Lim PK, Guillen-Burgos HF, McIntyre RS, 2025. Journal of Affective Disorders. 380, 777-801.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.150

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  • The efficacy of lithium in the treatment of suicidal ideation, behavior and suicide: An updated systematic review of method analysis of randomized controlled trials. Wang JX, Le GH, Wong S, Teopiz KM, Kwan ATH, Rosenblat JD, Rhee TG, Ho R, Lo HKY, Goldberg JF, Vinberg M, Grande I, Mansur R, Meyer JM, McIntyre RS,  2025. Journal of Affective Disorders, 119487-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119487

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  • Suicide risk in persons with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review. Wong S, Le GH, Lo HKY, Cao B, Lim PK, Rhee TG, Ho R, Guillen Burgos HF, Teopiz KM, Phan L, Rosenblat JD, Zhang M, McIntyre RS.  Annals of General Psychiatry. 2025;24:38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00574-w

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  • Effect of intravenous ketamine on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A systematic review. Yin  L, Lu A, Le GH, Dri CE, Wong S, Teopiz KM, Xu, H, Ho R, Rhee TG, Lo HKY , Sioufi MC, Zheng YJ , Au HCT, Guillen-Burgos HF, Cao B, McIntyre RS, 202 .Annals of General Psychiatry. 24:38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00574-w

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  • Recipient of the Fellowship Award for the 120th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) for the field of suicide prevention, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive approaches and evidence-based interventions  

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Stigma and Mental Health Promotion  

  • 「Deer Emo」讓我們跟情緒說聲:親愛的，我知你在。情緒，來得自然。在大自然，小動物發展出不同習性應對不同挑戰。讓我們向小動物學習，好在情緒森林中悠然自得

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  • Press Conference following publication on World Psychiatry Publication to reduce the stigma associated with help-seeking for depression

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  • Lecturer for Master of Psychological Medicine, Descriptive Psychopathology PSY6002, Lecture Topic : Affective and Anxiety Symptoms.

For a complete list of publications, please visit 🔗Research Gate Profile

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