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[ANNOUNCEMENT] Mind HK Holiday appeal for youth experiencing mental health problems

30/11/2023
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A letter from Mind HK CEO, Dr Candice Powell: 

Dear Mind HK community,

As we approach the holiday season, a time of joy and celebration, I am reaching out with a heartfelt plea regarding a matter that is close to my heart: youth mental health. This year, we have witnessed the escalating urgency of this situation; 306 students attempted suicide, and tragically, 37 did not survive. It’s a sobering reality that most mental disorders typically manifest between the ages of 12 and 25, and a recent local study revealed that 1 in 4 young people in Hong Kong are facing a mental health problem.

When I was a teenager, I remember the relentless pressure I put on myself, studying every day after school and on weekends, terrified of disappointing my parents or myself. The devastation of falling a few points short of full marks led to frequent panic attacks and an ongoing anxious mood. This struggle continued into my university years, culminating in a major depressive disorder. But I was one of the fortunate ones. I received psychotherapy at university, a lifeline that provided support and taught me to understand my emotions.

This experience underscored to me the vital importance of timely mental health support. Mind HK’s initiative, Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®), is a programme that provides free talking therapy. Our focus is on improving psychological flexibility, quality of life, resilience, and the ability to cope with difficult emotions. We have seen first-hand how this support can transform lives, offering hope and healing.

Our iACT® programme provides services to young people who are facing early symptoms of mental health conditions, primarily depression, and anxiety – supporting them in entering recovery can lower their chances of developing severe mental health conditions and suicidal risk in the future. We must reach our young people early and ensure they have the appropriate care.  The research shows that this can have a life-long, positive impact on their health.

This season, we are launching our first-ever holiday appeal for donations to fund this crucial programme.And here is the exciting part: for every donation you make, our generous match funders will double your impact. A donation of 375 HKD can provide an hour of therapy for a young person, and with our matching funds, that would be doubled to two hours.

Your generosity is about more than just money – it’s a message to our young people that they are not alone, that we care about them, and that we believe in their future. So, this holiday season, let’s give the gift of hope and healing.

Your contribution will ensure more young people receive the timely assistance they need; together we can transform mental health care in Hong Kong.

Thank you for your time and for considering our appeal. Wishing you a warm and joyous Christmas season.

With gratitude,
Candice
CEO, Mind HK

To support our holiday appeal, please visit: bit.ly/mhkha23

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

[ANNOUNCEMENT] Mind HK Holiday appeal for youth experiencing mental health problems

A letter from Mind HK CEO, Dr Candice Powell: 

Dear Mind HK community,

As we approach the holiday season, a time of joy and celebration, I am reaching out with a heartfelt plea regarding a matter that is close to my heart: youth mental health. This year, we have witnessed the escalating urgency of this situation; 306 students attempted suicide, and tragically, 37 did not survive. It's a sobering reality that most mental disorders typically manifest between the ages of 12 and 25, and a recent local study revealed that 1 in 4 young people in Hong Kong are facing a mental health problem.

When I was a teenager, I remember the relentless pressure I put on myself, studying every day after school and on weekends, terrified of disappointing my parents or myself. The devastation of falling a few points short of full marks led to frequent panic attacks and an ongoing anxious mood. This struggle continued into my university years, culminating in a major depressive disorder. But I was one of the fortunate ones. I received psychotherapy at university, a lifeline that provided support and taught me to understand my emotions.

This experience underscored to me the vital importance of timely mental health support. Mind HK's initiative, Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®), is a programme that provides free talking therapy. Our focus is on improving psychological flexibility, quality of life, resilience, and the ability to cope with difficult emotions. We have seen first-hand how this support can transform lives, offering hope and healing.

Our iACT® programme provides services to young people who are facing early symptoms of mental health conditions, primarily depression, and anxiety - supporting them in entering recovery can lower their chances of developing severe mental health conditions and suicidal risk in the future. We must reach our young people early and ensure they have the appropriate care.  The research shows that this can have a life-long, positive impact on their health.

This season, we are launching our first-ever holiday appeal for donations to fund this crucial programme.And here is the exciting part: for every donation you make, our generous match funders will double your impact. A donation of 375 HKD can provide an hour of therapy for a young person, and with our matching funds, that would be doubled to two hours.

Your generosity is about more than just money - it's a message to our young people that they are not alone, that we care about them, and that we believe in their future. So, this holiday season, let's give the gift of hope and healing.

Your contribution will ensure more young people receive the timely assistance they need; together we can transform mental health care in Hong Kong.

Thank you for your time and for considering our appeal. Wishing you a warm and joyous Christmas season.

With gratitude,
Candice
CEO, Mind HK

To support our holiday appeal, please visit: bit.ly/mhkha23