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Hilary

Mind HK Ambassador

Hilary’s Story

Where/what has been important to you in your mental health journey? Why? 

The window in my living room. When I look out of the window, there is a huge soccer field next to an elementary school. When I was dealing with panic disorder, I chose to stay at home all the time, because I felt like the apartment was the only safe place. I used to spend a lot of time standing in front of the window, staring at the kids playing soccer and running around with their friends in the playground, and I would ask myself: Why can’t I be as happy and carefree as they are? Why do I have to deal with my mental health issues? Why am I so unlucky? Why am I sick?

Now that I am in recovery, I still like to look out the window in my living room, enjoying seeing the kids rushing to school and playing with each other. But now, most importantly, I no longer feel bad about myself.

 

How has mental health affected your day to day life? 

My mental illness stopped me from looking for a job, going out to meet my friends, and  even having a meal with my family.

 

How would you describe yourself? What are your labels? 

Cheerful: A lot of my friends think I am a very cheerful person, and I am. I like to smile a lot, I make jokes a lot, and I laugh a lot. 

Curious: I ask a lot of questions. I am always excited about learning and trying different things.

Active: I like going to the gym and trying different workouts. Lately, I’m into pilates and Thai-boxing. I also like to play volleyball.

A mental health advocate: I was diagnosed with a panic disorder, anxiety and depression. I am passionate about sharing my mental health experience with others, who may be uncertain about this topic or people who need comfort and support in dealing with similar issues.

Food-lover: I am always down for good food!

 

What gave you hope during your recovery?

My dad certainly played an important role in my journey. He, too, recovered from a panic disorder and clinical depression. I witnessed his whole mental health journey. He assured me that if I was willing to visit a psychiatrist, that it could help in my recovery. Seeing him go from struggling to recovery from this mental illness, I knew that it was possible for me too. That is what motivated me to visit a psychiatrist. She recommended that I start medication and try cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a psychologist. With both treatments, I started seeing progress. I was able to visit my neighbour, and to have a meal with my friends outside my home.

 

Tell us about your life now 

I am in recovery now, even though I still take antidepressants every day. My mental health issues no longer stop me from doing what I like — I am an active gym go-er and I picked  up a few new hobbies. This experience influenced me to take care of my well-being. I make sure I don’t overwork myself; I have set myself some night time rituals to wind myself down after a busy day. 

I understand that we all have days when our mental health isn’t up to the mark, but I now have the tools to help myself to get through the difficult times. I treat my mental health issues as an “old friend”. When this “old friend” visits me when I am at work or walking in a crowded place, I imagine myself greeting it then slowly letting it go.

 

What has your mental health experience taught you? 

My mental health experiences taught me that it’s okay not to be okay. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help when you need it. Being vulnerable doesn’t equate to being weak; it actually takes a lot of courage to show my vulnerabilities to others.

 

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of having such an understanding family and loving friends, who have been supportive of my mental health journey from the beginning. They helped me see the light when I was stuck in a dark tunnel. Last but not least, I am also proud of myself for my recovery. It wasn’t the smoothest ride, but here I am.









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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.

Hilary’s Story

Where/what has been important to you in your mental health journey? Why? 

The window in my living room. When I look out of the window, there is a huge soccer field next to an elementary school. When I was dealing with panic disorder, I chose to stay at home all the time, because I felt like the apartment was the only safe place. I used to spend a lot of time standing in front of the window, staring at the kids playing soccer and running around with their friends in the playground, and I would ask myself: Why can't I be as happy and carefree as they are? Why do I have to deal with my mental health issues? Why am I so unlucky? Why am I sick?

Now that I am in recovery, I still like to look out the window in my living room, enjoying seeing the kids rushing to school and playing with each other. But now, most importantly, I no longer feel bad about myself.

 

How has mental health affected your day to day life? 

My mental illness stopped me from looking for a job, going out to meet my friends, and  even having a meal with my family.

 

How would you describe yourself? What are your labels? 

Cheerful: A lot of my friends think I am a very cheerful person, and I am. I like to smile a lot, I make jokes a lot, and I laugh a lot. 

Curious: I ask a lot of questions. I am always excited about learning and trying different things.

Active: I like going to the gym and trying different workouts. Lately, I’m into pilates and Thai-boxing. I also like to play volleyball.

A mental health advocate: I was diagnosed with a panic disorder, anxiety and depression. I am passionate about sharing my mental health experience with others, who may be uncertain about this topic or people who need comfort and support in dealing with similar issues.

Food-lover: I am always down for good food!

 

What gave you hope during your recovery?

My dad certainly played an important role in my journey. He, too, recovered from a panic disorder and clinical depression. I witnessed his whole mental health journey. He assured me that if I was willing to visit a psychiatrist, that it could help in my recovery. Seeing him go from struggling to recovery from this mental illness, I knew that it was possible for me too. That is what motivated me to visit a psychiatrist. She recommended that I start medication and try cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a psychologist. With both treatments, I started seeing progress. I was able to visit my neighbour, and to have a meal with my friends outside my home.

 

Tell us about your life now 

I am in recovery now, even though I still take antidepressants every day. My mental health issues no longer stop me from doing what I like — I am an active gym go-er and I picked  up a few new hobbies. This experience influenced me to take care of my well-being. I make sure I don't overwork myself; I have set myself some night time rituals to wind myself down after a busy day. 

I understand that we all have days when our mental health isn't up to the mark, but I now have the tools to help myself to get through the difficult times. I treat my mental health issues as an "old friend". When this "old friend" visits me when I am at work or walking in a crowded place, I imagine myself greeting it then slowly letting it go.

 

What has your mental health experience taught you? 

My mental health experiences taught me that it's okay not to be okay. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help when you need it. Being vulnerable doesn't equate to being weak; it actually takes a lot of courage to show my vulnerabilities to others.

 

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of having such an understanding family and loving friends, who have been supportive of my mental health journey from the beginning. They helped me see the light when I was stuck in a dark tunnel. Last but not least, I am also proud of myself for my recovery. It wasn't the smoothest ride, but here I am.