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Sandy

Mind HK Ambassador

Sandy’s story

Sandy, Mind HK Ambassador
A mental health advocate, a pop music lover, an owner of a cute lorikeet

 

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

In 2014, my poor academic performance and the subsequent emotional breakdown drove me to finally seek professional help. I was officially diagnosed with ADHD and depression after seeing a psychiatrist. This diagnosis changed my life. 

Journaling was what helped me deal with my emotions and cope with my mental illness. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I journal. I love how I can freely express myself. I love the fact that I don’t need to care about grammar or word choices, because I am the only person who reads it. I love the feeling of relief after writing and closing my journal. I journal every single day. It’s important to bear in mind that finding a healthy coping method is a process of trial and error. Don’t feel frustrated that a certain way works for others, but not for you.

How has mental health affected your day to day life?

My depression made me too tired to do anything. I was so tired I couldn’t get up. I didn’t want to eat because I felt like eating and chewing were too exhausting. I could sleep all day as well because I was so fatigued.

How has the stigma around mental health affected your life?

When I disclosed my ADHD diagnosis to a relative, she responded with “everyone has it” and “you just need to try harder”. 

My hope is that people will learn more about mental illness, so they are better able to support those who are experiencing challenges.

How would you describe yourself? What are your labels? 

  1. Extroverted: During my recovery, I realised I am a very “people” person. It means being around people gives me energy. I love spending time with friends and family. I wouldn’t be here today without their support. 
  2. Proud ADHDer: There are always two sides in everything, but having ADHD brings me a bubbly personality, and I am grateful for that. So, I am not ashamed of being a ADHDer. 
  3. Diagnosed with depression: Being diagnosed with depression is a fact of mine and I could never change that. Like having ADHD, I am thankful for having this experience as it made me who I am today. I still receive treatment for my depression, but I’m on the road of recovery and that’s okay.
  4. Empathetic: I am easily moved by people or things that happen around me, but I don’t mind that at all. Being empathetic is my favourite trait.
  5. Hopeful: Hope was one of the things I held onto when I was struggling with my mental health condition. Though I didn’t feel hopeful all the time, I was certain that there’s hope in recovering.

Tell us about your life now

Even though I’m still taking medications every day, I would say I live in recovery. My definition of recovery is having stability. It doesn’t matter if I’m still taking medications or other forms of treatment. Recovery isn’t easy, but I’m doing great now! Recovery restored my will to live and motivation to have a healthy lifestyle (both physically and mentally). I hope my experience with mental illness can inspire people and encourage people to seek help when they need it.

What has your mental health journey taught you? 

My mental health experience has taught me that self-acceptance is crucial for mental health. I know it is difficult for one to admit that they have a mental health problem, because I’ve been there. But it’s okay to struggle. The point is we have to accept our vulnerabilities. If we refuse to face our vulnerability, it will worsen our psychological well-being.

 

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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.

Sandy’s story

Sandy, Mind HK Ambassador
A mental health advocate, a pop music lover, an owner of a cute lorikeet

 

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

In 2014, my poor academic performance and the subsequent emotional breakdown drove me to finally seek professional help. I was officially diagnosed with ADHD and depression after seeing a psychiatrist. This diagnosis changed my life. 

Journaling was what helped me deal with my emotions and cope with my mental illness. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I journal. I love how I can freely express myself. I love the fact that I don't need to care about grammar or word choices, because I am the only person who reads it. I love the feeling of relief after writing and closing my journal. I journal every single day. It’s important to bear in mind that finding a healthy coping method is a process of trial and error. Don’t feel frustrated that a certain way works for others, but not for you.

How has mental health affected your day to day life?

My depression made me too tired to do anything. I was so tired I couldn’t get up. I didn’t want to eat because I felt like eating and chewing were too exhausting. I could sleep all day as well because I was so fatigued.

How has the stigma around mental health affected your life?

When I disclosed my ADHD diagnosis to a relative, she responded with “everyone has it” and “you just need to try harder”. 

My hope is that people will learn more about mental illness, so they are better able to support those who are experiencing challenges.

How would you describe yourself? What are your labels? 

  1. Extroverted: During my recovery, I realised I am a very “people” person. It means being around people gives me energy. I love spending time with friends and family. I wouldn’t be here today without their support. 
  2. Proud ADHDer: There are always two sides in everything, but having ADHD brings me a bubbly personality, and I am grateful for that. So, I am not ashamed of being a ADHDer. 
  3. Diagnosed with depression: Being diagnosed with depression is a fact of mine and I could never change that. Like having ADHD, I am thankful for having this experience as it made me who I am today. I still receive treatment for my depression, but I’m on the road of recovery and that’s okay.
  4. Empathetic: I am easily moved by people or things that happen around me, but I don’t mind that at all. Being empathetic is my favourite trait.
  5. Hopeful: Hope was one of the things I held onto when I was struggling with my mental health condition. Though I didn’t feel hopeful all the time, I was certain that there’s hope in recovering.

Tell us about your life now

Even though I’m still taking medications every day, I would say I live in recovery. My definition of recovery is having stability. It doesn’t matter if I’m still taking medications or other forms of treatment. Recovery isn’t easy, but I’m doing great now! Recovery restored my will to live and motivation to have a healthy lifestyle (both physically and mentally). I hope my experience with mental illness can inspire people and encourage people to seek help when they need it.

What has your mental health journey taught you? 

My mental health experience has taught me that self-acceptance is crucial for mental health. I know it is difficult for one to admit that they have a mental health problem, because I’ve been there. But it’s okay to struggle. The point is we have to accept our vulnerabilities. If we refuse to face our vulnerability, it will worsen our psychological well-being.