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[PRESS RELEASE] Manulife Launches a Two-Year Strategic Charity Partnership with Mind HK

23/05/2024
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Manulife Launches a Two-Year Strategic Charity Partnership with Mind HK

Key initiatives aim to address misconceptions towards mental health and 

empower sustained health and well-being

 

Hong Kong – Manulife Hong Kong today announced a two-year strategic partnership with Mind HK, a Hong Kong-based mental health charity, to raise public awareness of the importance of mental health and to influence the development of mental health support services in Hong Kong. This partnership will help advance one of Manulife’s Impact Agenda commitments to empower sustained health and well-being. Over the course of the partnership, the two organizations will work together to organize a series of awareness events, anti-stigma programs, and ongoing professional training initiatives aimed at advocating for improved mental health support within the local community.

 

Mental health conditions can arise from various common environmental, social, and personal stressors, such as stressful life events, illnesses, and financial difficulties. It is estimated that one in seven people in Hong Kong will experience a common mental disorder at any given time , yet three-quarters of those affected will not seek professional help1. Through this partnership, Manulife and Mind HK will collaborate to develop a series of programs designed to tackle the high prevalence of mental health issues in society.

 

“Manulife and Mind HK share a vision to advocate for the importance of mental health and reducing unnecessary stereotypes in the city. Collaborating with Mind HK allows us to increase awareness of mental health and improve accessibility to mental health support within the community. Our commitment to the city and its people goes beyond financial well-being; we also place significant emphasis on promoting their mental and physical wellness, thereby bringing our ‘body-mind-wealth’ customer proposition to life. By leveraging Mind HK’s expertise and networks, we hope to change public perceptions towards mental health and foster a more inclusive society in Hong Kong,” said Patrick Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau.

 

“This strategic partnership between Mind HK and Manulife Hong Kong is a milestone for Mind HK. It will allow us to expand and strengthen our service network to help more people in need of mental health support and also boost public awareness to improve mental health literacy levels and reduce the stigma around mental health. We look forward to joining hands with our like-minded partner to work towards our vision of ensuring no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone,” said Dr. Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK.

 

The collaborated programmes set to roll out beginning in 2024 include: 

 

  • Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®)

A pioneering initiative developed by Mind HK, iACT® is a stepped care model for mental health services. Trained iACT® Wellbeing Practitioners are available to offer free, short-term, in-person, and remote support to local citizens experiencing mild to severe anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or emotional distress. With the support of Manulife, Mind HK aims to strengthen and support the network of graduated practitioners and enable them to effectively serve people in need.

 

  • Mind HK x Manulife Public Awareness Raising Events

These events will feature expert speakers from clinical psychology, public health, and NGOs, as well as individuals who have firsthand experience with mental health conditions. They will come together to discuss mental health topics and share personal stories of recovery. The first event is scheduled to take place on June 21, 2024, at Quarryside, a harbourfront community space located in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay district. During this event, Benjamin Au Yeung, a linguistic scholar-turned-TV host, will facilitate conversations on emotion management, joined by a clinical advisor and an ambassador from Mind HK.

 

  • “More Than a Label” Anti-Stigma Campaign

This campaign aims to provide training for individuals who have faced mental health challenges, empowering them to become ambassadors capable of effectively sharing their personal experiences through campaigns, webpages, and social media platforms. This initiative is a collaboration with MINDSET Hong Kong and offers ambassadors the opportunity to showcase holistic representations of individuals who have triumphed over mental health issues. It aims to encourage the community to feel empowered through stories of people-in-recovery, educate the public about mental health, and raise awareness to reduce stigma.

 

  • Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2025

This three-day international conference, entitled “Birth, Life, and Mental Health,” aims to explore the evidence, psychology and cultural aspects of the entire lifespan and its relationship to mental health. The conference is expected to draw 1,000 attendees.

 

 

Photo:

Manulife launches a two-year strategic charity partnership with Mind HK to address misconceptions towards mental health and empower sustained health and well-being. Present at the kick-off ceremony are Patrick Graham, CEO of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau (left), and Dr. Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK (right).                                   

 

About Manulife Hong Kong

Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years. Since our operations started in Asia in 1897, we have grown to become one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.5 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers.

Manulife Hong Kong, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited.

 

About Manulife 

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong. 

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. 


About Mind HK

Mind HK is a mental health charity (S88 registered – 91/16471) here to ensure no one has to face a mental health problem alone in Hong Kong. Through our work, we hope to improve awareness of mental health and mental health conditions, remove the associated stigma, and provide talking therapy, with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. Together with the existing collaboration and research efforts, we are here to support Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health.

 

Media Contact:

 

Manulife (International) Limited

Crystal Tse / Yvonne Kwok 

Tel: (852) 2510 3130 / 2510 5032

[email protected] 

[email protected]

Mind HK (Chance Communications)

Chloe Hung

Tel: (852) 6334 6038

[email protected]

 

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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.

[PRESS RELEASE] Manulife Launches a Two-Year Strategic Charity Partnership with Mind HK

Manulife Launches a Two-Year Strategic Charity Partnership with Mind HK

Key initiatives aim to address misconceptions towards mental health and 

empower sustained health and well-being

 

Hong Kong – Manulife Hong Kong today announced a two-year strategic partnership with Mind HK, a Hong Kong-based mental health charity, to raise public awareness of the importance of mental health and to influence the development of mental health support services in Hong Kong. This partnership will help advance one of Manulife’s Impact Agenda commitments to empower sustained health and well-being. Over the course of the partnership, the two organizations will work together to organize a series of awareness events, anti-stigma programs, and ongoing professional training initiatives aimed at advocating for improved mental health support within the local community.

 

Mental health conditions can arise from various common environmental, social, and personal stressors, such as stressful life events, illnesses, and financial difficulties. It is estimated that one in seven people in Hong Kong will experience a common mental disorder at any given time , yet three-quarters of those affected will not seek professional help1. Through this partnership, Manulife and Mind HK will collaborate to develop a series of programs designed to tackle the high prevalence of mental health issues in society.

 

"Manulife and Mind HK share a vision to advocate for the importance of mental health and reducing unnecessary stereotypes in the city. Collaborating with Mind HK allows us to increase awareness of mental health and improve accessibility to mental health support within the community. Our commitment to the city and its people goes beyond financial well-being; we also place significant emphasis on promoting their mental and physical wellness, thereby bringing our ‘body-mind-wealth’ customer proposition to life. By leveraging Mind HK’s expertise and networks, we hope to change public perceptions towards mental health and foster a more inclusive society in Hong Kong," said Patrick Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau.

 

"This strategic partnership between Mind HK and Manulife Hong Kong is a milestone for Mind HK. It will allow us to expand and strengthen our service network to help more people in need of mental health support and also boost public awareness to improve mental health literacy levels and reduce the stigma around mental health. We look forward to joining hands with our like-minded partner to work towards our vision of ensuring no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone," said Dr. Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK.

 

The collaborated programmes set to roll out beginning in 2024 include: 

 

  • Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®)

A pioneering initiative developed by Mind HK, iACT® is a stepped care model for mental health services. Trained iACT® Wellbeing Practitioners are available to offer free, short-term, in-person, and remote support to local citizens experiencing mild to severe anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or emotional distress. With the support of Manulife, Mind HK aims to strengthen and support the network of graduated practitioners and enable them to effectively serve people in need.

 

  • Mind HK x Manulife Public Awareness Raising Events

These events will feature expert speakers from clinical psychology, public health, and NGOs, as well as individuals who have firsthand experience with mental health conditions. They will come together to discuss mental health topics and share personal stories of recovery. The first event is scheduled to take place on June 21, 2024, at Quarryside, a harbourfront community space located in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay district. During this event, Benjamin Au Yeung, a linguistic scholar-turned-TV host, will facilitate conversations on emotion management, joined by a clinical advisor and an ambassador from Mind HK.

 

  • “More Than a Label” Anti-Stigma Campaign

This campaign aims to provide training for individuals who have faced mental health challenges, empowering them to become ambassadors capable of effectively sharing their personal experiences through campaigns, webpages, and social media platforms. This initiative is a collaboration with MINDSET Hong Kong and offers ambassadors the opportunity to showcase holistic representations of individuals who have triumphed over mental health issues. It aims to encourage the community to feel empowered through stories of people-in-recovery, educate the public about mental health, and raise awareness to reduce stigma.

 

  • Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2025

This three-day international conference, entitled “Birth, Life, and Mental Health,” aims to explore the evidence, psychology and cultural aspects of the entire lifespan and its relationship to mental health. The conference is expected to draw 1,000 attendees.

 

 

Photo:

Manulife launches a two-year strategic charity partnership with Mind HK to address misconceptions towards mental health and empower sustained health and well-being. Present at the kick-off ceremony are Patrick Graham, CEO of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau (left), and Dr. Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK (right).                                   

 

About Manulife Hong Kong

Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years. Since our operations started in Asia in 1897, we have grown to become one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.5 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers.

Manulife Hong Kong, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited.

 

About Manulife 

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong. 

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. 


About Mind HK

Mind HK is a mental health charity (S88 registered – 91/16471) here to ensure no one has to face a mental health problem alone in Hong Kong. Through our work, we hope to improve awareness of mental health and mental health conditions, remove the associated stigma, and provide talking therapy, with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. Together with the existing collaboration and research efforts, we are here to support Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health.

 

Media Contact:

 

Manulife (International) Limited

Crystal Tse / Yvonne Kwok 

Tel: (852) 2510 3130 / 2510 5032

[email protected] 

[email protected]

Mind HK (Chance Communications)

Chloe Hung

Tel: (852) 6334 6038

[email protected]