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Mind HK: Move it for Mental Health 2020

31/01/2020
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Exercise can play a significant role in maintaining mental health, yet more than half of Hongkongers do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity

#moveitformentalhealth #moveithk

(Hong Kong, 23 January 2020) For the third consecutive year, Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) is running its Move it for Mental Health (Move it) campaign throughout the month of February to raise awareness of the benefits that exercise has on our physical and mental health. The campaign aims to encourage Hongkongers to get moving for their mental health by exercising for 30 minutes every day in February, with a dedicated website offering tips on how to get active along with a selection of local gyms and studios providing workshops and classes that are Move it themed.

Dr. Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK, said: “Mental and physical health are closely linked, but more than half of us in Hong Kong do not achieve the recommended amount of daily exercise. Our Move it for Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness for how just 30 minutes a day of exercise can make a big difference to a person’s overall mental health, not just physical. Physical health plays a significant role in managing some mental health conditions, in particular depression and anxiety. While depression and anxiety can make one less willing to participate in sports activities or join a gym, exercise has been proven to decrease many of the symptoms of these disorders.”

Yvette Kong, Board Member of Mind HK and Olympic Swimmer for Hong Kong, said: “Your mind and body go hand in hand. This is important for everyone to remember – exercise can help your overall mental wellbeing, sleep, and mood. Taking 30 minutes out of your day for your mental health should be made a priority and I encourage you to take in this challenge.”

According to the Centre for Health Protection, approximately 55% of adults in Hong Kong do not reach the WHO recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity) per week. According to a study by the Hong Kong Playground Assocation, 21.3% of youth (age 13 to 18) and 38.8% of youth (aged 19 to 24) do not meet the MVPA60 standard (moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity for ac least 60 minutes daily), a recommendation of WHO.

How to get involved in the Move it for Mental Health campaign
Mind HK’s Move it for Mental Health campaign asks Hongkongers to exercise for both their physical and mental wellbeing and to be aware of the difference it makes. Participants can simply walk, do yoga, hike, dance or do any other form of exercise for just 30 mintues every day in February. Sign up here and you will receive information on Move it themed events and resources.

To get involved people are encouraged to visit www.moveithk.com to find out more, follow and like Mind
HK’s social media pages, and create community-wide action by sharing their Move it for Mental Health
experiences and encouraging others to join the movement with the hashtags #moveitformentalhealth
#moveithk.

To find out more about the Move it partners and to get involved in their workshops and classes, follow
this link: www.moveithk.com/supportingorganisations
-ENDJoin the conversation on:
Move it Website: www.moveithk.com
Mind HK Website: www.mind.org.hk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong

About Mind Hong Kong:
Mind HK, established as established as Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited,” is a registered S88 charity (91/16471) committed to improving awareness and understanding of mental health in Hong Kong. They collaborate with other local and international mental health charities and provide online support and training programmes, based on global best practice, to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and equip them with the resources they need. Through collaborative research, Mind HK is leading the way in understanding mental health problems in the city and providing its population with the right support and resources.

Anyone in Hong Kong who needs help with their mental health can be assured that they are entitled to the full support of Mind HK irrespective of their gender, race, background or beliefs. To be effective and credible, Mind HK operate as a neutral and impartial humanitarian charity without any political affiliations or other conflicts of interest. The work we do, especially our research, is dedicated to improving the health of vulnerable groups and maintaining the best mental health possible for all of Hong Kong. We hope that anyone reporting or commenting on our work will respect and support our independence and neutrality.

Media Contacts:
For information or interviews, please contact Sinclair
Nikki McLucas | [email protected] | (852) 6895 0534
Crystal Leung | [email protected] | (852) 9633 2429
For emergency support please contact the below services:
Samaritans 24-hour hotline (Multi-lingual): (852) 2896 0000
Samaritan Befrienders 24-hour hotline (Cantonese only): 2389 2222
Suicide Prevention Services 24-hour hotline (Catonese only): (852) 2382 0000
More crisis support services can be found here: mind.org.hk/find-help-now
More non-urgent support services can be found here: https://www.mind.org.hk/community-directory/

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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.

Mind HK: Move it for Mental Health 2020

Exercise can play a significant role in maintaining mental health, yet more than half of Hongkongers do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity

#moveitformentalhealth #moveithk

(Hong Kong, 23 January 2020) For the third consecutive year, Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) is running its Move it for Mental Health (Move it) campaign throughout the month of February to raise awareness of the benefits that exercise has on our physical and mental health. The campaign aims to encourage Hongkongers to get moving for their mental health by exercising for 30 minutes every day in February, with a dedicated website offering tips on how to get active along with a selection of local gyms and studios providing workshops and classes that are Move it themed.

Dr. Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK, said: “Mental and physical health are closely linked, but more than half of us in Hong Kong do not achieve the recommended amount of daily exercise. Our Move it for Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness for how just 30 minutes a day of exercise can make a big difference to a person’s overall mental health, not just physical. Physical health plays a significant role in managing some mental health conditions, in particular depression and anxiety. While depression and anxiety can make one less willing to participate in sports activities or join a gym, exercise has been proven to decrease many of the symptoms of these disorders.”

Yvette Kong, Board Member of Mind HK and Olympic Swimmer for Hong Kong, said: “Your mind and body go hand in hand. This is important for everyone to remember – exercise can help your overall mental wellbeing, sleep, and mood. Taking 30 minutes out of your day for your mental health should be made a priority and I encourage you to take in this challenge.”

According to the Centre for Health Protection, approximately 55% of adults in Hong Kong do not reach the WHO recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity) per week. According to a study by the Hong Kong Playground Assocation, 21.3% of youth (age 13 to 18) and 38.8% of youth (aged 19 to 24) do not meet the MVPA60 standard (moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity for ac least 60 minutes daily), a recommendation of WHO.

How to get involved in the Move it for Mental Health campaign
Mind HK’s Move it for Mental Health campaign asks Hongkongers to exercise for both their physical and mental wellbeing and to be aware of the difference it makes. Participants can simply walk, do yoga, hike, dance or do any other form of exercise for just 30 mintues every day in February. Sign up here and you will receive information on Move it themed events and resources.

To get involved people are encouraged to visit www.moveithk.com to find out more, follow and like Mind
HK’s social media pages, and create community-wide action by sharing their Move it for Mental Health
experiences and encouraging others to join the movement with the hashtags #moveitformentalhealth
#moveithk.

To find out more about the Move it partners and to get involved in their workshops and classes, follow
this link: www.moveithk.com/supportingorganisations
-ENDJoin the conversation on:
Move it Website: www.moveithk.com
Mind HK Website: www.mind.org.hk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong

About Mind Hong Kong:
Mind HK, established as established as Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited,” is a registered S88 charity (91/16471) committed to improving awareness and understanding of mental health in Hong Kong. They collaborate with other local and international mental health charities and provide online support and training programmes, based on global best practice, to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and equip them with the resources they need. Through collaborative research, Mind HK is leading the way in understanding mental health problems in the city and providing its population with the right support and resources.

Anyone in Hong Kong who needs help with their mental health can be assured that they are entitled to the full support of Mind HK irrespective of their gender, race, background or beliefs. To be effective and credible, Mind HK operate as a neutral and impartial humanitarian charity without any political affiliations or other conflicts of interest. The work we do, especially our research, is dedicated to improving the health of vulnerable groups and maintaining the best mental health possible for all of Hong Kong. We hope that anyone reporting or commenting on our work will respect and support our independence and neutrality.

Media Contacts:
For information or interviews, please contact Sinclair
Nikki McLucas | [email protected] | (852) 6895 0534
Crystal Leung | [email protected] | (852) 9633 2429
For emergency support please contact the below services:
Samaritans 24-hour hotline (Multi-lingual): (852) 2896 0000
Samaritan Befrienders 24-hour hotline (Cantonese only): 2389 2222
Suicide Prevention Services 24-hour hotline (Catonese only): (852) 2382 0000
More crisis support services can be found here: mind.org.hk/find-help-now
More non-urgent support services can be found here: https://www.mind.org.hk/community-directory/