Hong Kong Confidential

Olivia grew up in Hong Kong in a Chinese family. She realised that she suffered from anxiety and depression after she finished university. Her friends did not really understand her mental health issues and she found it difficult to manage her fluctuating emotions. Olivia developed an intense fear of failure and rejection, and was unable to do her job well. It was three or four years before she sought help and she was diagnosed as bipolar with depression and anxiety. Olivia found it very hard to accept this diagnosis and she tried to avoid the issue as she did not want to admit that she needed medication.  Eventually, she tried medication and this helped her but she still found it difficult to accept her condition as she was worried about judgment from others.  Her family was unable to accept her mental health issues as topics like this are rarely discussed in traditional Chinese families. At times she felt suicidal and this was very difficult for her to overcome. She talks about the cultural pressur