“How are you feeling?”

This was the question my family doctor asked after diagnosing me with a life-threatening eating disorder. At 16, it was the first time I’d even heard the term “eating disorder”. And despite being talkative and expressive in other parts of my life, I found myself lost for words.

The truth is,

most of us struggle to describe how we feel when we’re in pain. In Hong Kong, 43% of people experiencing mental health challenges choose not to disclose them – not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know how to avoid judgment or discrimination.

It’s no exaggeration to say storytelling saved my life.

Learning to structure my experiences into stories helped me process them, share them with loved ones, and eventually wield them as tools for advocacy.

Today, I’ve brought my message to over 10,000 people in Hong Kong and beyond. Drawing on both lived-experience perspectives and academic insights, I strive to prioritize empathy just as much as scientific rigor. 

Meet your scientist

Steph Ng

Education:

  • B.A. in Psychology, Duke University

  • M.A. in Psychology, Columbia University

  • Final year PhD candidate in health communication, The University of Hong Kong

Awards:

Steph Ng is revolutionizing mental health communication, from Hong Kong classrooms to global boardrooms.

As the founder of The Lending Language Lab, she dismantles ineffective mental health messaging worldwide, rebuilding it with research-backed language that drives real change. As a PhD researcher in health communication and a lived-experience mental health advocate, Steph uniquely bridges the rigor of academic insight and the relatability of lived experience to challenge mental health stigma among audiences of diverse backgrounds.

Recognized as the 2023 winner of American Chambers of Commerce’s Young Changemaker award and the 2024 winner of Tatler Magazine’s Rising Champion Award , her work has impacted audiences from BBC to TEDx, while her book Big Bites Break Boundaries exposes unrealistic standards of appearance and achievement in Hong Kong. Whether advising schools in Asia or corporations worldwide, Steph proves mental health advocacy shouldn't be polite—it should be powerful.

Ready to reach out?

The Lending Language Lab is based in Hong Kong but welcomes clients from around the world.

Reach out to me at steph@thelendinglanguagelab.com or send me a message using this contact form.