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Step Up for Health – Mind HK’s “Move it for Mental Health 2022” Stepathon Challenge Encourages the Public to Exercise More for Better Well-being

08/02/2022
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(Hong Kong, 25 January 2022) – It’s no secret that exercise is good for our bodies, but do you know moving is good for our minds too? In fact, exercise can help significantly in preventing mental health problems, increasing positive emotions, and enhancing our overall sense of well-being. Sadly, however, 80% of Hongkongers do not achieve the World Health Organisation’s most basic recommended physical activity levels. 34% of Hong Kong adults reported that they rarely exercise or do no exercise at all. But all is not lost.

The local mental health charity, Mind HK, is encouraging everyone to move more in 2022 and get off to an active start by joining their 5th annual “Move it for Mental Health 2022” (MoveItHK2022) challenge and completing 280,000+ steps in a stepathon challenge during the month of February. They are inviting people to get their friends, colleagues and families involved too. 

Participants can take up any physical activity they like such as walking, running, rope skipping, jogging and hiking in order to complete approximately 10,000 steps per day. The programme is supported by Here to Be, lululemon’s social impact programme and Laureus Sport for Good. All the “movers” who successfully complete 280,000 or more steps between 1 and 28 February 2022, will be eligible for a reward. Companies can also participate as teams to create a greater sense of motivation.

Together with the stepathon challenge, Mind HK is also co-organising several online mental health workshops with InspiringHK Sports Foundation and KELY Support Group. These will target mainly youth aged 13 – 24 years. The workshops will be hosted by clinical professionals, so participants can gain a good understanding of the relationship between physical exercise, lifestyle, and mental health.

For many of us, the restrictions due to the COVID situation have disrupted our exercise routines, lowered our morale and upset our daily lives. This has led to increasing mental health problems globally, as physical and mental health are closely linked. Robust evidence shows that certain levels of exercise can stimulate the release of endorphins and other positive neurotransmitters to improve our mood and self-esteem, reduce feelings of negative emotions, and relieve stress and anxiety.

Karen Lau, the Mind HK Clinical Advisor said, “Physical exercise can be a key component in treating specific mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. We should not underestimate the tremendous benefits that simply being on our feet and moving around can bring to our well-being. The path to better mental health truly lies at our feet!”

Last year, over 4,200 participants took part in the “Move it for Mental Health 2021” 50km nature challenge and they clocked up over 100,000kms between them. According to the post challenge survey, 86% of participants said they noticed a positive difference in their mental health after exercising outdoors. Respondents who had previously reported poor mental health and well-being dropped to 16% compared to 40% before joining the challenge.

Mr Gareth Pope, Senior Vice President, lululemon, Asia Pacific said, “At lululemon, we are committed to supporting the holistic well-being of our community. We believe that physical health and mental health are equally important, and we are happy to support our Here to Be partner Mind HK for the 2nd year in advocating the importance of physical exercise for mental health.”

Ms Malina Ngai, Laureus Ambassador and CEO A.S.Watson (Asia and Europe) said, “The mental health and well-being of society has been tested over the past few years and young people have been affected the most in Hong Kong.  By empowering our community and working with partners like Mind HK through our Model City programme, we aim to use the power of sport and physical activity to support activities and campaigns such as Move it for Mental Health that educates, challenge attitudes and stigmas as well as support young people’s mental health.”

 

How to join the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” – 280,000 Stepathon Challenge

You can sign up for the Challenge at www.moveithk.com Registration closes on 19 February 2022.

 

Participants who complete 280,000 or more steps within the month of February, by walking, hiking, running, dancing, or any other exercises that can count steps, can win a reward. Companies and participants can also become a #MoveItHK supporters through in-kind donations or fundraising for Mind HK on simplygiving.com. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected].

To find out more about the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” supporting and participating organisations at:
https://www.moveithk.com/participating-organisations 

Safety Reminders:

Safety is always a top priority at Mind HK. So, in light of the flu season and the COVID situation, we ask all “#MoveItHK” participants to take extra safety precautions during this time: wash your hands before and after working out, wear a mask when in the community or in crowded areas, avoid exercising in groups and in crowded areas. Please refer to government guidelines: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

-END-

 

Promotional video and high-resolution images to download:
“Move It for Mental Health 2022” Promotional video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X7SdNzAp9E

High-resolution images:
https://bit.ly/345wu6y

 

Media Contact:

Chance Communications

Jeff Chan / Chloe Hung

E: [email protected]/ [email protected]

T: +852 2509 3308

Mind HK

Carol Liang, Deputy CEO, Mind HK

E: [email protected]

 

 

About Mind Hong Kong:

 

Mind HK (Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited) is a S88 registered charity (91/16471), which launched in 2017. The organisation’s vision is to ensure no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone. Through resources, training, and outreach campaigns and programmes, their work helps to educate around mental health and remove the associate stigma, with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. With existing collaboration and research efforts, Mind HK supports Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health. For more on their work, vision and mission, please visit www.mind.org.hk.

 

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 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.

 

For more information, please visit www.mind.org.hk and follow us on social media.

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong

About lululemon’s “Here to Be” Programme:

lululemon is a healthy lifestyle inspired athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other sweaty pursuits for men and women, creating transformational products and experiences which enable people to live a life they love. Here to Be is lululemon’s social impact programme. Together with our partners, we disrupt inequity in well-being through movement, mindfulness, and advocacy.

 

About Laureus Sport for Good

Laureus is a global movement that uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people. In 2000, Laureus’ founding patron Nelson Mandela said, ‘Sport has the power to change the world’, and these words have become the philosophy of Laureus and the driving force behind its work. Since 2000, Laureus Sport for Good has improved used the power of sport to change the lives of over six million young people, currently supports more than 250 programmes in over 40 countries. The work of Laureus Sport for Good aims to address six key social issues identified by the UN that are affecting young people across the world: Health, Education, Women and Girls, Employability, Inclusive Society and Peaceful Society. For more information, visit laureus.com.

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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.

Step Up for Health – Mind HK’s “Move it for Mental Health 2022” Stepathon Challenge Encourages the Public to Exercise More for Better Well-being

(Hong Kong, 25 January 2022) – It’s no secret that exercise is good for our bodies, but do you know moving is good for our minds too? In fact, exercise can help significantly in preventing mental health problems, increasing positive emotions, and enhancing our overall sense of well-being. Sadly, however, 80% of Hongkongers do not achieve the World Health Organisation’s most basic recommended physical activity levels. 34% of Hong Kong adults reported that they rarely exercise or do no exercise at all. But all is not lost.

The local mental health charity, Mind HK, is encouraging everyone to move more in 2022 and get off to an active start by joining their 5th annual “Move it for Mental Health 2022” (MoveItHK2022) challenge and completing 280,000+ steps in a stepathon challenge during the month of February. They are inviting people to get their friends, colleagues and families involved too. 

Participants can take up any physical activity they like such as walking, running, rope skipping, jogging and hiking in order to complete approximately 10,000 steps per day. The programme is supported by Here to Be, lululemon’s social impact programme and Laureus Sport for Good. All the “movers” who successfully complete 280,000 or more steps between 1 and 28 February 2022, will be eligible for a reward. Companies can also participate as teams to create a greater sense of motivation.

Together with the stepathon challenge, Mind HK is also co-organising several online mental health workshops with InspiringHK Sports Foundation and KELY Support Group. These will target mainly youth aged 13 – 24 years. The workshops will be hosted by clinical professionals, so participants can gain a good understanding of the relationship between physical exercise, lifestyle, and mental health.

For many of us, the restrictions due to the COVID situation have disrupted our exercise routines, lowered our morale and upset our daily lives. This has led to increasing mental health problems globally, as physical and mental health are closely linked. Robust evidence shows that certain levels of exercise can stimulate the release of endorphins and other positive neurotransmitters to improve our mood and self-esteem, reduce feelings of negative emotions, and relieve stress and anxiety.

Karen Lau, the Mind HK Clinical Advisor said, “Physical exercise can be a key component in treating specific mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. We should not underestimate the tremendous benefits that simply being on our feet and moving around can bring to our well-being. The path to better mental health truly lies at our feet!”

Last year, over 4,200 participants took part in the “Move it for Mental Health 2021” 50km nature challenge and they clocked up over 100,000kms between them. According to the post challenge survey, 86% of participants said they noticed a positive difference in their mental health after exercising outdoors. Respondents who had previously reported poor mental health and well-being dropped to 16% compared to 40% before joining the challenge.

Mr Gareth Pope, Senior Vice President, lululemon, Asia Pacific said, “At lululemon, we are committed to supporting the holistic well-being of our community. We believe that physical health and mental health are equally important, and we are happy to support our Here to Be partner Mind HK for the 2nd year in advocating the importance of physical exercise for mental health.”

Ms Malina Ngai, Laureus Ambassador and CEO A.S.Watson (Asia and Europe) said, “The mental health and well-being of society has been tested over the past few years and young people have been affected the most in Hong Kong.  By empowering our community and working with partners like Mind HK through our Model City programme, we aim to use the power of sport and physical activity to support activities and campaigns such as Move it for Mental Health that educates, challenge attitudes and stigmas as well as support young people’s mental health.”

 

How to join the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” - 280,000 Stepathon Challenge

You can sign up for the Challenge at www.moveithk.com Registration closes on 19 February 2022.

 

Participants who complete 280,000 or more steps within the month of February, by walking, hiking, running, dancing, or any other exercises that can count steps, can win a reward. Companies and participants can also become a #MoveItHK supporters through in-kind donations or fundraising for Mind HK on simplygiving.com. For more information, please get in touch with [email protected].

To find out more about the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” supporting and participating organisations at:
https://www.moveithk.com/participating-organisations 

Safety Reminders:

Safety is always a top priority at Mind HK. So, in light of the flu season and the COVID situation, we ask all “#MoveItHK” participants to take extra safety precautions during this time: wash your hands before and after working out, wear a mask when in the community or in crowded areas, avoid exercising in groups and in crowded areas. Please refer to government guidelines: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

-END-

 

Promotional video and high-resolution images to download:
“Move It for Mental Health 2022” Promotional video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X7SdNzAp9E

High-resolution images:
https://bit.ly/345wu6y

 

Media Contact:

Chance Communications

Jeff Chan / Chloe Hung

E: [email protected]/ [email protected]

T: +852 2509 3308

Mind HK

Carol Liang, Deputy CEO, Mind HK

E: [email protected]

 

 

About Mind Hong Kong:

 

Mind HK (Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited) is a S88 registered charity (91/16471), which launched in 2017. The organisation's vision is to ensure no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone. Through resources, training, and outreach campaigns and programmes, their work helps to educate around mental health and remove the associate stigma, with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. With existing collaboration and research efforts, Mind HK supports Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health. For more on their work, vision and mission, please visit www.mind.org.hk.

 

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 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.

 

For more information, please visit www.mind.org.hk and follow us on social media.

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

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HongKongMind

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mindhongkong

About lululemon’s “Here to Be” Programme:

lululemon is a healthy lifestyle inspired athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other sweaty pursuits for men and women, creating transformational products and experiences which enable people to live a life they love. Here to Be is lululemon’s social impact programme. Together with our partners, we disrupt inequity in well-being through movement, mindfulness, and advocacy.

 

About Laureus Sport for Good

Laureus is a global movement that uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people. In 2000, Laureus’ founding patron Nelson Mandela said, ‘Sport has the power to change the world’, and these words have become the philosophy of Laureus and the driving force behind its work. Since 2000, Laureus Sport for Good has improved used the power of sport to change the lives of over six million young people, currently supports more than 250 programmes in over 40 countries. The work of Laureus Sport for Good aims to address six key social issues identified by the UN that are affecting young people across the world: Health, Education, Women and Girls, Employability, Inclusive Society and Peaceful Society. For more information, visit laureus.com.