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Jo

Mind HK Ambassador

Jo’s letter

To the brave you,

 

These past few years, some friends found that you have changed; you are happier. I think you are more optimistic and confident than before. You are not lashing out at your family anymore, you listen to others’ opinions, and you have become more proactive and self-disciplined. I know that it is through countless struggles, that you have gained this resilience. 

 

In 2020, your mental state worsened. You were crying for no reason and you were in pain. Besides work, you didn’t want to do much of anything. You tried to fill the endless void with food. You were worried that it would become even worse, so you sought help from a social worker and a clinical psychologist (CP) in order to face all the confusing thoughts, feelings and angst that appeared that year. After a few sessions of therapy, all the traumatic experiences resurfaced, and what you buried inside your heart was released, so that the traumatic memories were once again connected with the emotions you experienced. Turns out these experiences  were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

 

You started to understand your emotions, and the physical and mental reactions you were experiencing. You started to find appropriate coping mechanisms. You experienced less rage, less depression and less binge eating, but more states of anxiety, flashbacks and sound sensitivity. You decided to take a long holiday to rest your body and mind.You went ahead and resigned from your job to search for a new direction.

 

There were two very touching moments during the holiday:

  • Being able to focus and read news and novels. It was my ability to read that had been lost for months!
  • Rock climbing alone on the mountain, lying on the crash pad, listening to the birds, looking at the blue sky, and seeing the sunbeams through the leaves and suddenly feeling how good it is to be alive.

 

You continued to receive therapy, and most symptoms slowly disappeared, and only “panic attacks” stayed. The first time was April 2020. You would unusually panic after falling during outdoor sport climbing; you couldn’t focus on climbing. It kept happening and it was really frustrating when your favorite hobby became your biggest fear. It took a long time to accept this  reality and you were full of doubts and struggles. You understood that everything is a process and decided to perform a hard reboot. You learned how to settle down and how to communicate with others well. You are now able to take the initiative to practice falling and try lead climbing! Although I can’t tell you that the panic attacks have disappeared, I can tell you that you now have the confidence to face them and your friends will support you. You also gained lots of experience in bouldering as you switched your focus from sport climbing, and you gained another kind of joy.

 

I believe that everyone has a unique inner strength, and we will eventually find our path. The world is filled with suffering and suppression, you have to take care of your body and mind, learn more, drink more water, and try your best to voice out just like you did one year ago when you bravely shared your story through Mind HK. I am grateful for my CP, my friends, my family and everyone I met at Mind HK, they make it easier for us to walk through our journey.

 

Some lyrics for you:

“What do you overwatch at night

For what do you fear, for tomorrow you despair

There is still light

 

Riding the breeze

All that I feel

How vast is it, how wide

The tearing rainclouds, the edge of the sky is bright

Nothing is wrong or right”



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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.

Jo’s letter

To the brave you,

 

These past few years, some friends found that you have changed; you are happier. I think you are more optimistic and confident than before. You are not lashing out at your family anymore, you listen to others' opinions, and you have become more proactive and self-disciplined. I know that it is through countless struggles, that you have gained this resilience. 

 

In 2020, your mental state worsened. You were crying for no reason and you were in pain. Besides work, you didn’t want to do much of anything. You tried to fill the endless void with food. You were worried that it would become even worse, so you sought help from a social worker and a clinical psychologist (CP) in order to face all the confusing thoughts, feelings and angst that appeared that year. After a few sessions of therapy, all the traumatic experiences resurfaced, and what you buried inside your heart was released, so that the traumatic memories were once again connected with the emotions you experienced. Turns out these experiences  were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

 

You started to understand your emotions, and the physical and mental reactions you were experiencing. You started to find appropriate coping mechanisms. You experienced less rage, less depression and less binge eating, but more states of anxiety, flashbacks and sound sensitivity. You decided to take a long holiday to rest your body and mind.You went ahead and resigned from your job to search for a new direction.

 

There were two very touching moments during the holiday:

  • Being able to focus and read news and novels. It was my ability to read that had been lost for months!
  • Rock climbing alone on the mountain, lying on the crash pad, listening to the birds, looking at the blue sky, and seeing the sunbeams through the leaves and suddenly feeling how good it is to be alive.

 

You continued to receive therapy, and most symptoms slowly disappeared, and only “panic attacks” stayed. The first time was April 2020. You would unusually panic after falling during outdoor sport climbing; you couldn’t focus on climbing. It kept happening and it was really frustrating when your favorite hobby became your biggest fear. It took a long time to accept this  reality and you were full of doubts and struggles. You understood that everything is a process and decided to perform a hard reboot. You learned how to settle down and how to communicate with others well. You are now able to take the initiative to practice falling and try lead climbing! Although I can’t tell you that the panic attacks have disappeared, I can tell you that you now have the confidence to face them and your friends will support you. You also gained lots of experience in bouldering as you switched your focus from sport climbing, and you gained another kind of joy.

 

I believe that everyone has a unique inner strength, and we will eventually find our path. The world is filled with suffering and suppression, you have to take care of your body and mind, learn more, drink more water, and try your best to voice out just like you did one year ago when you bravely shared your story through Mind HK. I am grateful for my CP, my friends, my family and everyone I met at Mind HK, they make it easier for us to walk through our journey.

 

Some lyrics for you:

“What do you overwatch at night

For what do you fear, for tomorrow you despair

There is still light

 

Riding the breeze

All that I feel

How vast is it, how wide

The tearing rainclouds, the edge of the sky is bright

Nothing is wrong or right”