Registration Link: Click Here
MH Conversations and Connections Series – Lunchtime Seminar
Title: Listening Across Cultures: Mental Wellbeing and Hidden Pressures in Hong Kong’s Ethnically Diverse Communities
Date: 19 March 2026 (Thur)
Time: 12:30 – 1:45 pm HKT
Venue: 3SR-SR4 = Seminar Room 4 (Room 403), 4/F, HKUMed Academic Building, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam
Registration Link: Click Here
Abstract:
Mental health is shaped not only by individual psychology, but by family relationships, cultural expectations, legal constraints, and access to care. For many South Asian individuals, born and raised in Hong Kong, distress unfolds within complex social contexts that are rarely understood by health providers.
At the heart of this conversation are the experiences of over 500 ethnically diverse individuals who have sought mental health counselling from The Zubin Foundation’s Ethnic Minority Well Being Centre. Learn about the challenges, breakthroughs and collaboration between this local charity and the public health sector. Gain insight into the trauma of Hong Kong’s forced marriage victims and how to identify warning signs.
The discussion will be led by Shalini Mahtani, founder and CEO of The Zubin Foundation, which runs Hong Kong’s Ethnic Minority Wellbeing Centre. Panelists include Priya Agrawal, Lead Counsellor at the centre and Sala Sihombing, Chair of the Forced Marriage Committee.
The event invites students and clinicians to listen carefully and reflect on what culturally responsive, compassionate care looks like in practice.
Speakers:
Shalini Mahtani
MBE, MH; Founder of The Zubin Foundation and Community Business
Priya Agrawal
Lead Counsellor, Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre
Sala Sihombing
Chair, Forced Marriage Assistance Committee
Accredited Family Mediator, Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association (HKMAAL)
Speakers’ Bio:
Shalini Mahtani
Shalini Mahtani is one of Hong Kong’s most authoritative and respected voices on social issues, particularly in the areas of racial equality, inclusion, and the challenges faced by the city’s ethnic minorities. As a pioneer in civil society, she has worked in previously untouched areas in Hong Kong.
Shalini is the founder of The Zubin Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities, primarily the city’s poorest Indians, Pakistanis, and Nepalis. The Foundation is named in memory of her son, Zubin.
Additionally, Shalini founded Community Business, the first organization in Asia focused on promoting diversity in the workplace for women, the LGBT community, and individuals with disabilities. She is also one of the founders of The Women’s Foundation.
She has served on various government advisory and statutory bodies, including the Transport Advisory Committee and the Commission for Children. Currently, she is a board member of the Human Resource Talent Development Commission for the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Shalini has received numerous accolades, including the Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong SAR Government and the MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She has also been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
A native of Hong Kong, Shalini is married and has three children.
Priya Agrawal
Priya is a Lead Counsellor at the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre within The Zubin Foundation, providing vital counselling services to ethnically diverse individuals. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, she specializes in addressing depression, anxiety, and family dynamics. Priya is passionate about raising mental health awareness through outreach programs designed for diverse communities in Hong Kong.
She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Mumbai University and is registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India and the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association. Trained in various psychological modalities, Priya takes a holistic approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, and relationships.
Before moving to Hong Kong, she gained extensive experience in hospitals and schools across India and Nepal. Priya is multilingual, fluent in Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Marwadi, and English, allowing her to connect effectively with a wide range of clients.
Sala Sihombing
Sala works full-time as a mediator focusing on families in Hong Kong. She is an accredited mediator (Australia AMDRAS) (USA FINRA) (Hong Kong HKMAAL/HKIAC) (UK CEDR) and Family Mediation Supervisor (HKMAAL). Since 2013, she has taught as an adjunct lecturer at HKU in the LLM ADR Programme.
Having originally qualified as a solicitor in the UK (1995) / Hong Kong (1996), she worked in Hong Kong as a criminal/civil litigator. She worked as in-house counsel at Peregrine Management Limited and at Credit Agricole Indosuez for various business lines. She moved to Morgan Stanley in 2000 for the Institutional Equity Division.
In 2012, Sala received her LLM in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute (Pepperdine University, USA). Her LLB is from the University of Bristol, UK.
Welcome to join us!
Enquiry: Please contact Mr Edison Cheng (mehu@hku.hk).