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Ethel

Mind HK Ambassador

Showing up with Courage and Kindness for Myself and Others

After working in healthcare procurement for over a year, I turned down a promotion and left my job in Malaysia to relocate to Hong Kong to pursue my passion for neuroscience research during the tail end of the fifth wave of the pandemic. On my days off, you could probably find me attending a workshop somewhere in the city, hiding behind my film camera, or burying my head in an ebook on my phone (or physical book) in the MTR (or cafes). Sometimes when I feel restless and whimsical, I would hop on the train or ferry to escape city life and seek refuge in nature.

For years, my approach to life has been quite straightforward: push through until there’s a breakthrough. This mentality has been drummed into me from childhood and has served me well through the many challenges and difficulties of adulthood. However, a series of challenging events involving social adjustments, occupational burnout and anxiety two years ago pushed me over the edge, so much so that this mentality started being harmful. Before I knew it, I found myself in a dark place, sinking deeper into the sea of hopelessness and despair.

In many ways, I was afraid of myself and what I would do. In an attempt to distract myself from my own thoughts and soothe my fear, I reached out to a friend. When he heard about how I’ve been feeling lately and what I’ve gone through that day, he urged me to get professional help. Initially, I was very reluctant to the idea. However, for days, his words echoed in my head; the concern and care in his voice made me realise the gravity of my circumstances. His advice started to grow on me, and I decided to go to therapy.

During the sessions, I felt safe to express myself, all the while feeling understood and heard. My existing perspective was also challenged, allowing me to see the bigger picture while helping me gain a better sense of self-awareness. Through therapy, I was able to gain knowledge about my mental health and tools to better deal with unhelpful thoughts, thus making me more resilient and capable of dealing with life’s challenges, and showing up with integrity, courage, kindness and compassion for myself and those around me. I know that the road to recovery takes time and patience, but I am hopeful that it is within reach.

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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.

Showing up with Courage and Kindness for Myself and Others

After working in healthcare procurement for over a year, I turned down a promotion and left my job in Malaysia to relocate to Hong Kong to pursue my passion for neuroscience research during the tail end of the fifth wave of the pandemic. On my days off, you could probably find me attending a workshop somewhere in the city, hiding behind my film camera, or burying my head in an ebook on my phone (or physical book) in the MTR (or cafes). Sometimes when I feel restless and whimsical, I would hop on the train or ferry to escape city life and seek refuge in nature.

For years, my approach to life has been quite straightforward: push through until there's a breakthrough. This mentality has been drummed into me from childhood and has served me well through the many challenges and difficulties of adulthood. However, a series of challenging events involving social adjustments, occupational burnout and anxiety two years ago pushed me over the edge, so much so that this mentality started being harmful. Before I knew it, I found myself in a dark place, sinking deeper into the sea of hopelessness and despair.

In many ways, I was afraid of myself and what I would do. In an attempt to distract myself from my own thoughts and soothe my fear, I reached out to a friend. When he heard about how I've been feeling lately and what I've gone through that day, he urged me to get professional help. Initially, I was very reluctant to the idea. However, for days, his words echoed in my head; the concern and care in his voice made me realise the gravity of my circumstances. His advice started to grow on me, and I decided to go to therapy.

During the sessions, I felt safe to express myself, all the while feeling understood and heard. My existing perspective was also challenged, allowing me to see the bigger picture while helping me gain a better sense of self-awareness. Through therapy, I was able to gain knowledge about my mental health and tools to better deal with unhelpful thoughts, thus making me more resilient and capable of dealing with life’s challenges, and showing up with integrity, courage, kindness and compassion for myself and those around me. I know that the road to recovery takes time and patience, but I am hopeful that it is within reach.