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Mind HK partners with MINDSET to train youth wellbeing practitioners for Hong Kong’s youth to tackle the city’s growing youth mental health crisis

08/12/2021
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(Hong Kong, 2 December 2021) – Mental health is of increasing concern in Hong Kong’s notoriously high stressed society, especially among youth. In collaboration with CSG, Mind HK commissioned research to look at the mental health of young people and their accessibility to relevant services from the perspective of students themselves (aged 16-24), parents (with children aged 14-24), and educators.

 

Despite 75% of students aged between 16 to 24 claiming that they have good/ very good mental health status and mood, which is better than parents’ perception, most of them stated that they suffer from stress derived from academic performance, career, and parental expectations. The research also indicated that nearly half of the parents encountered difficulties seeking mental help support due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of available services. Nearly 90% (87%) of students rely on in-school counsellors and social workers for mental health support. 74% of youth surveyed stated that more low-cost mental health support is needed for young people in Hong Kong.

 

Currently, over 43,000 people are on the waiting list for psychiatric care, with over 1,200 of them being children or adolescents. The average waiting time in 2020 was around 60 weeks for child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric care. These figures reflect the treatment gap; low levels of help-seeking and shortages of mental support can partially be attributed to the high cost of private therapy and shortage of accessible professional therapists for young people in the city.

Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) is a local mental health charity dedicated ensuring no one has to face a mental health problem alone. Today, Mind HK announced a pivotal partnership with the Jardine Matheson Group’s charity initiative – MINDSET Hong Kong (MINDSET) — to launch the “Mind HK and MINDSET Youth Wellbeing Training Programme”, funded by Jardine Matheson, Hongkong Land HOME FUND and HKEX Foundation.

 

The programme will offer a new training course for a cohort of 50 Youth Wellbeing Practitioners (YWPs), who will be trained to provide low-intensity intervention support to young people in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will act as the programme’s academic partner, whilst King’s College London will also play a supporting role.

 

The programme aims to reach over 1,300 young people beneficiaries in the first year alone. Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of common mental health problems and some prior exposure to individuals experiencing mental health problems. A degree in mental health-related topics, prior experience in healthcare or other settings with exposure to people experiencing mental health problems is also desirable. Applications are now open and will close in January 2022.

 

As a pioneer initiative in Hong Kong, the YWP curriculum will adapt the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model, which is currently being used for anxiety and depression treatment of young people, together with the Children and Young Person’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP-IAPT), a successful evidence-based public mental health model implemented in the UK.

The Youth Wellbeing Practitioner Training programme will include over 100 hours of intensive theoretical training featuring basic counselling skills using the ACT model for common mental health problems and assessing ongoing clinical risk, followed by nine months of supervised clinical placements (e.g. Schools).

 

This will allow candidates to gain diversified practical mental health knowledge and experiences at no extra cost while at the same time contributing to the sector by adding capacity to the mental healthcare workforce. Upon completion of the course, the YWPs will be able to provide 6 – 8 sessions of guided self-help to young people aged between 12 to 24 who are experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress in Hong Kong by using a low-intensity, manualised intervention based on the principles of ACT.

 

Dr Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK said: “Research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that 75% of mental problems develop before the age of 24 and 50% are established by the age of 14. The overall aim of this pilot programme is to improve accessibility to care for young people in need and provide support for schools and NGOs in Hong Kong who need to increase their mental health provision.

 

Most importantly, it will encourage early intervention for mild to moderate difficulties, and help prevent problems from becoming more serious or developing. Clinical data will be gathered and fed into a research study that will be carried out externally by researchers. This will provide insights on how we can work together with others to best improve mental health provision for young people in Hong Kong.”

 

Mr Andrew Wong, Board Member of MINDSET Hong Kong said: “As part of the Jardine Matheson Group’s long-term commitment to making positive and sustainable change in mental healthcare in the city, we are very excited to support this pilot programme and help to develop a great platform for practitioners to gain insights and skills to support young people in Hong Kong.”

In order to deliver quality service for patients, the programme is also recruiting experienced clinical supervisors to provide mentoring support, and to review and guide the trainees through their training and placements. The supervisors will be required to oversee a number of YWP trainees and offer a minimum commitment of three hours of weekly face to face supervision to ensure they adhere to the low intensity /ACT intervention protocols. Some clinical supervisors will also lead occasional groups in order to facilitate reflective practice and peer learning. Due to the demands of the role, the supervisors will all have an excellent working knowledge of ACT and experience in providing clinical supervision.

Application Details:

The application for the programme will take place online from now until end of January 2022. For more details about the programme, entry requirements and application form please visit the official website.

-END-

For high-res image, please download here.  

 

Press Enquiries

Chance Communications

Chloe Hung / Jeff Chan

E: [email protected] / [email protected]

T: +852 2509 3308

About Mind HK

Mind HK, 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 resources 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. In order to be effective and credible, Mind HK operates 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.

 

About MINDSET

MINDSET is a registered charity founded by the Jardine Matheson Group in 2002, and focused on making a positive and sustainable difference in mental health — a vitally important yet under-resourced area of global concern.

With operations in Hong Kong and Singapore, MINDSET collaborates with a number of mental health organisations and NGOs, advocacy groups and corporate partners, with the aim of raising awareness of mental health issues and changing the perceptions and attitudes around mental health. Our mission is to challenge stigma through the education and empowerment of individuals to enable them to share with, and support, one another. We also provide direct assistance to people with mental ill-health. Visit their Facebook page @MINDSETHongKong and website at mindset.org.hk to learn more about MINDSET.

 

About Jardine Matheson 

Jardine Matheson is a diversified Asian-based group with unsurpassed experience in the region, having been founded in China in 1832. The Group operates principally in China and Southeast Asia through a large number of subsidiaries and affiliates. These companies are active in the fields of motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, transport services, restaurants, luxury hotels, financial services, heavy equipment, mining and agribusiness. For more information, please visit jardines.com.

 

About HKEX Foundation

HKEX Foundation was established in June 2020 to deepen HKEX’s connectivity and long-standing commitment to addressing the social and environmental challenges faced by our communities. It is a recognised charitable entity under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. HKEX Foundation supports those in need through partnerships with local charities and funding projects across four focus areas: Financial Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion, Poverty Relief, and Environmental Sustainability.

 

About Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management, and development group. The Group owns and manages more than 850,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, and Jakarta. The Group also has a number of high quality residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects under development in cities across China and Southeast Asia. In Singapore, its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

 

Key Partners 

Partner: MINDSET Hong Kong

Sponsors: Jardine Matheson, Hongkong Land HOME FUND, HKEX Foundation

Academic Partner: Hong Kong Baptist University

Supporting Academic Institution: King’s College London

For more information, please visit the official website and follow Mind HK on social media.

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3cMtqyu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong

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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 partners with MINDSET to train youth wellbeing practitioners for Hong Kong’s youth to tackle the city’s growing youth mental health crisis

(Hong Kong, 2 December 2021) – Mental health is of increasing concern in Hong Kong’s notoriously high stressed society, especially among youth. In collaboration with CSG, Mind HK commissioned research to look at the mental health of young people and their accessibility to relevant services from the perspective of students themselves (aged 16-24), parents (with children aged 14-24), and educators.

 

Despite 75% of students aged between 16 to 24 claiming that they have good/ very good mental health status and mood, which is better than parents’ perception, most of them stated that they suffer from stress derived from academic performance, career, and parental expectations. The research also indicated that nearly half of the parents encountered difficulties seeking mental help support due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of available services. Nearly 90% (87%) of students rely on in-school counsellors and social workers for mental health support. 74% of youth surveyed stated that more low-cost mental health support is needed for young people in Hong Kong.

 

Currently, over 43,000 people are on the waiting list for psychiatric care, with over 1,200 of them being children or adolescents. The average waiting time in 2020 was around 60 weeks for child and adolescent outpatient psychiatric care. These figures reflect the treatment gap; low levels of help-seeking and shortages of mental support can partially be attributed to the high cost of private therapy and shortage of accessible professional therapists for young people in the city.

Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) is a local mental health charity dedicated ensuring no one has to face a mental health problem alone. Today, Mind HK announced a pivotal partnership with the Jardine Matheson Group’s charity initiative – MINDSET Hong Kong (MINDSET) — to launch the “Mind HK and MINDSET Youth Wellbeing Training Programme”, funded by Jardine Matheson, Hongkong Land HOME FUND and HKEX Foundation.

 

The programme will offer a new training course for a cohort of 50 Youth Wellbeing Practitioners (YWPs), who will be trained to provide low-intensity intervention support to young people in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will act as the programme’s academic partner, whilst King’s College London will also play a supporting role.

 

The programme aims to reach over 1,300 young people beneficiaries in the first year alone. Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of common mental health problems and some prior exposure to individuals experiencing mental health problems. A degree in mental health-related topics, prior experience in healthcare or other settings with exposure to people experiencing mental health problems is also desirable. Applications are now open and will close in January 2022.

 

As a pioneer initiative in Hong Kong, the YWP curriculum will adapt the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model, which is currently being used for anxiety and depression treatment of young people, together with the Children and Young Person’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP-IAPT), a successful evidence-based public mental health model implemented in the UK.

The Youth Wellbeing Practitioner Training programme will include over 100 hours of intensive theoretical training featuring basic counselling skills using the ACT model for common mental health problems and assessing ongoing clinical risk, followed by nine months of supervised clinical placements (e.g. Schools).

 

This will allow candidates to gain diversified practical mental health knowledge and experiences at no extra cost while at the same time contributing to the sector by adding capacity to the mental healthcare workforce. Upon completion of the course, the YWPs will be able to provide 6 – 8 sessions of guided self-help to young people aged between 12 to 24 who are experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress in Hong Kong by using a low-intensity, manualised intervention based on the principles of ACT.

 

Dr Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK said: “Research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that 75% of mental problems develop before the age of 24 and 50% are established by the age of 14. The overall aim of this pilot programme is to improve accessibility to care for young people in need and provide support for schools and NGOs in Hong Kong who need to increase their mental health provision.

 

Most importantly, it will encourage early intervention for mild to moderate difficulties, and help prevent problems from becoming more serious or developing. Clinical data will be gathered and fed into a research study that will be carried out externally by researchers. This will provide insights on how we can work together with others to best improve mental health provision for young people in Hong Kong.”

 

Mr Andrew Wong, Board Member of MINDSET Hong Kong said: “As part of the Jardine Matheson Group’s long-term commitment to making positive and sustainable change in mental healthcare in the city, we are very excited to support this pilot programme and help to develop a great platform for practitioners to gain insights and skills to support young people in Hong Kong.”

In order to deliver quality service for patients, the programme is also recruiting experienced clinical supervisors to provide mentoring support, and to review and guide the trainees through their training and placements. The supervisors will be required to oversee a number of YWP trainees and offer a minimum commitment of three hours of weekly face to face supervision to ensure they adhere to the low intensity /ACT intervention protocols. Some clinical supervisors will also lead occasional groups in order to facilitate reflective practice and peer learning. Due to the demands of the role, the supervisors will all have an excellent working knowledge of ACT and experience in providing clinical supervision.

Application Details:

The application for the programme will take place online from now until end of January 2022. For more details about the programme, entry requirements and application form please visit the official website.

-END-

For high-res image, please download here.  

 

Press Enquiries

Chance Communications

Chloe Hung / Jeff Chan

E: [email protected] / [email protected]

T: +852 2509 3308

About Mind HK

Mind HK, 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 resources 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. In order to be effective and credible, Mind HK operates 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.

 

About MINDSET

MINDSET is a registered charity founded by the Jardine Matheson Group in 2002, and focused on making a positive and sustainable difference in mental health — a vitally important yet under-resourced area of global concern.

With operations in Hong Kong and Singapore, MINDSET collaborates with a number of mental health organisations and NGOs, advocacy groups and corporate partners, with the aim of raising awareness of mental health issues and changing the perceptions and attitudes around mental health. Our mission is to challenge stigma through the education and empowerment of individuals to enable them to share with, and support, one another. We also provide direct assistance to people with mental ill-health. Visit their Facebook page @MINDSETHongKong and website at mindset.org.hk to learn more about MINDSET.

 

About Jardine Matheson 

Jardine Matheson is a diversified Asian-based group with unsurpassed experience in the region, having been founded in China in 1832. The Group operates principally in China and Southeast Asia through a large number of subsidiaries and affiliates. These companies are active in the fields of motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, transport services, restaurants, luxury hotels, financial services, heavy equipment, mining and agribusiness. For more information, please visit jardines.com.

 

About HKEX Foundation

HKEX Foundation was established in June 2020 to deepen HKEX’s connectivity and long-standing commitment to addressing the social and environmental challenges faced by our communities. It is a recognised charitable entity under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. HKEX Foundation supports those in need through partnerships with local charities and funding projects across four focus areas: Financial Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion, Poverty Relief, and Environmental Sustainability.

 

About Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management, and development group. The Group owns and manages more than 850,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, and Jakarta. The Group also has a number of high quality residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects under development in cities across China and Southeast Asia. In Singapore, its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

 

Key Partners 

Partner: MINDSET Hong Kong

Sponsors: Jardine Matheson, Hongkong Land HOME FUND, HKEX Foundation

Academic Partner: Hong Kong Baptist University

Supporting Academic Institution: King’s College London

For more information, please visit the official website and follow Mind HK on social media.

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3cMtqyu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong