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[PRESS RELEASE] Refresh your body, mind and soul with a walk in nature. Mind HK’s Annual “Move It for Mental Health” campaign “Hop” for Better Mental Health into The Year of The Rabbit

20/01/2023
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Refresh your body, mind and soul with a walk in nature. 

Mind HK’s Annual “Move It for Mental Health” campaign

“Hop” for Better Mental Health into The Year of The Rabbit


 

( Hong Kong, 20 January 2023 ) – Our minds and bodies are intimately entwined in helping us achieve and lead a more fulfilling life. Many studies have shown that exercise in nature not only keeps us physically fit, but also has a positive impact on our mental health. However, over 80% of people in Hong Kong spend less than 2.5 hours on physical activity every week. This fails to meet even the World Health Organisation’s most basic recommended physical activity levels. The COVID pandemic exacerbated people’s sedentary behaviour in the city even more. About one-fifth of residents aged 15 or above report  sitting or reclining for 10 hours or longer every day. This has and will have a concerning effect on people’s health and mental well-being.

This coming March, the local mental health charity Mind HK will be organising its 6th annual large-scale “Move it for Mental Health 2023”challenge to raise awareness of the critical importance of a good mind-body balance through encouraging everyone to develop an active lifestyle by completing a total of 30 km in nature within the month of March. Being close to nature can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, boost our mood, and clear our minds. Mind HK is encouraging people of all ages to take a step in nature this year to feel the positive changes it brings to our bodies and mind. It’s time to keep it up if you made it last year, or here is the opportunity for you to up for a new year challenge!    

Anyone can join in via “Run2gather” from 6 February to 19 March 2023. Participants, or “Movers” as they are called, can achieve the goal simply by taking up their choice of outdoor physical activities, such as walking, running, or hiking along nature trails, coastal walks, or country parks and uploading their activity record to the app. Funded  by Here to Be, lululemon’s social impact program, all “movers” who successfully finish the challenge and submit their activity records via the app or website before 6 April 2023, will be given a certificate and a chance to win a lululemon prize.

 

Take a break from the hectic pace of daily life and invite your friends and family to join you in exploring the tranquillity of our outlying islands and the green havens within the city. Embrace the beauty of nature while reconnecting with your inner self. To make your steps more impactful, you can also become a #MoveitHK supporter and help raise funds for Mind HK through the campaign to support the charity’s efforts in improving access to mental health services for the community. One of the charity’s key initiatives, iACT (Improved Access to Community Therapies), was rolled out earlier last year to train new wellbeing practitioners to deliver free, early mental health support to individuals facing mild to moderate mental health problems. Your support in this challenge will be helping Mind HK to continue its work in expanding this programme. 

 

Dr Candice Powell, Mind HK’s CEO, said, “Regular physical activity has been well-proven to enhance our well-being and prevent and reduce mental health symptoms in all age groups. Recent studies show that immersing ourselves in nature benefits physical and psychological health. When it comes to our mental health, being in nature significantly enhances people’s positive emotional state, attitude and stress coping and alleviates anxiety and depression. We encourage everyone to walk, jog, or run in nature during March to kick start a healthy 2023.” 

 

Over 3,700 participants took part in the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” stepathon challenge. According to the post-challenge survey, 74.3% of participants said they felt more energized after the challenge and 85.5% of respondents felt the experience motivated them to exercise more regularly. They also felt a significant improvement in their mental health. According to the World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), challenge completers showed a 20.6% increase in average mental wellbeing.  

 

Derek, a Mind HK Ambassador, said, “Movement and exercise has been an integral part of my life since before I can remember. It is my happy place and has always been a calming influence that centers me. At the same time, it’s also an outlet where I can both process and vent unspoken emotions. In a way, it is a very raw form of expression, much like many arts, where language does not have to be the preferred medium of communication, and as such taps into something deeper, resulting in a more profound and comprehensive expression of self.”

 

Mr Gareth Pope, Senior Vice President, lululemon, Asia Pacific, said, “We are proud to support Mind HK, our Here to Be partner, for the third year in promoting physical, mental, and social wellbeing. We are pleased to see that mental health has received greater attention in Hong Kong over the past year, but there is still more work to be done. Enabling the community to achieve holistic wellbeing is our priority here at lululemon.”

 

Details about Mind HK Move It for Mental Health Campaign 2023

Event Period: 1 March 2023 – 31 March 2023

Official Website: www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/

Registration link: bit.ly/moveit2023signup

Registration Period: 6 February 2023 (Monday) to 19 March 2023 (Sunday)
Fee: Free 


How to join?
Please visit www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/ for more details about the “Move it for Mental Health 2023” (#MoveItHK) challenge campaign. Interested participants can sign up through “Run2gather” via its website. Registration opens on 6 February 2023.

 

How to get your reward?

Participants who complete the goal of 30km in March 2023 and successfully submit their activity record via the “Run2Gather” app and website will be given a certificate and a chance to win a lululemon prize. Participants can complete the 30km by walking, running, hiking or a combination of any or all three out in nature, either in one go or by accumulating km over several efforts. Participants can also become #MoveItHK supporters by fundraising for Mind HK to deliver more accessible mental health support for the local community. For more information, please contact [email protected].

 

To find out more about “Move it for Mental Health 2023”, please visit: www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/

 

“Run2gather” Official Website: https://www.run2gather.com/?lang=en

iOS Download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/run2gather/id1490559376

Android Download: https://bit.ly/3Xc9Osl

 

Safety Reminders:

At Mind HK, safety is always our top priority. Given the flu season and COVID outbreaks, we ask all “#MoveItHK” participants to take extra safety precautions during this time. Please refer to government guidelines: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

 

High-res Images and to download:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fcklyq24yqnguymsu7kf8/h?dl=0&rlkey=7xpmtt2vtak72v547ewal6ey3

 

Press Enquiries:

Chance Communications

Chloe Hung / Jeff Chan
E: [email protected] / [email protected]

T: +852 6334 6038

Mind HK
Carol Liang, Deputy CEO, Mind HK 

E: [email protected]

Emet So, Communications Coordinator, Mind HK 

E: [email protected]

 

About Mind HK

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

 

Mind HK’s Social Media Platforms: 

Mind HK’s Facebook: @hongkongmind /Mind HK’s  Instagram: @mindhongkong / Mind HK’s LinkedIn: @Mind HK 香港心聆


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 partners, lululemon disrupts inequity in well-being through movement, mindfulness, and advocacy.

 

lululemon’s Social Media Platforms:

lululemon Hong Kong and Macau’s Facebook: @lululemonhk / lululemon Hong Kong and Macau’s Instagram: @lululemonhk

 

Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin
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] Refresh your body, mind and soul with a walk in nature. Mind HK’s Annual “Move It for Mental Health” campaign “Hop” for Better Mental Health into The Year of The Rabbit

Refresh your body, mind and soul with a walk in nature. 

Mind HK’s Annual “Move It for Mental Health” campaign

“Hop” for Better Mental Health into The Year of The Rabbit


 

( Hong Kong, 20 January 2023 ) – Our minds and bodies are intimately entwined in helping us achieve and lead a more fulfilling life. Many studies have shown that exercise in nature not only keeps us physically fit, but also has a positive impact on our mental health. However, over 80% of people in Hong Kong spend less than 2.5 hours on physical activity every week. This fails to meet even the World Health Organisation’s most basic recommended physical activity levels. The COVID pandemic exacerbated people’s sedentary behaviour in the city even more. About one-fifth of residents aged 15 or above report  sitting or reclining for 10 hours or longer every day. This has and will have a concerning effect on people’s health and mental well-being.

This coming March, the local mental health charity Mind HK will be organising its 6th annual large-scale “Move it for Mental Health 2023”challenge to raise awareness of the critical importance of a good mind-body balance through encouraging everyone to develop an active lifestyle by completing a total of 30 km in nature within the month of March. Being close to nature can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, boost our mood, and clear our minds. Mind HK is encouraging people of all ages to take a step in nature this year to feel the positive changes it brings to our bodies and mind. It’s time to keep it up if you made it last year, or here is the opportunity for you to up for a new year challenge!    

Anyone can join in via “Run2gather” from 6 February to 19 March 2023. Participants, or “Movers” as they are called, can achieve the goal simply by taking up their choice of outdoor physical activities, such as walking, running, or hiking along nature trails, coastal walks, or country parks and uploading their activity record to the app. Funded  by Here to Be, lululemon’s social impact program, all “movers” who successfully finish the challenge and submit their activity records via the app or website before 6 April 2023, will be given a certificate and a chance to win a lululemon prize.

 

Take a break from the hectic pace of daily life and invite your friends and family to join you in exploring the tranquillity of our outlying islands and the green havens within the city. Embrace the beauty of nature while reconnecting with your inner self. To make your steps more impactful, you can also become a #MoveitHK supporter and help raise funds for Mind HK through the campaign to support the charity’s efforts in improving access to mental health services for the community. One of the charity’s key initiatives, iACT (Improved Access to Community Therapies), was rolled out earlier last year to train new wellbeing practitioners to deliver free, early mental health support to individuals facing mild to moderate mental health problems. Your support in this challenge will be helping Mind HK to continue its work in expanding this programme. 

 

Dr Candice Powell, Mind HK’s CEO, said, “Regular physical activity has been well-proven to enhance our well-being and prevent and reduce mental health symptoms in all age groups. Recent studies show that immersing ourselves in nature benefits physical and psychological health. When it comes to our mental health, being in nature significantly enhances people’s positive emotional state, attitude and stress coping and alleviates anxiety and depression. We encourage everyone to walk, jog, or run in nature during March to kick start a healthy 2023.” 

 

Over 3,700 participants took part in the “Move it for Mental Health 2022” stepathon challenge. According to the post-challenge survey, 74.3% of participants said they felt more energized after the challenge and 85.5% of respondents felt the experience motivated them to exercise more regularly. They also felt a significant improvement in their mental health. According to the World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), challenge completers showed a 20.6% increase in average mental wellbeing.  

 

Derek, a Mind HK Ambassador, said, “Movement and exercise has been an integral part of my life since before I can remember. It is my happy place and has always been a calming influence that centers me. At the same time, it’s also an outlet where I can both process and vent unspoken emotions. In a way, it is a very raw form of expression, much like many arts, where language does not have to be the preferred medium of communication, and as such taps into something deeper, resulting in a more profound and comprehensive expression of self.”

 

Mr Gareth Pope, Senior Vice President, lululemon, Asia Pacific, said, “We are proud to support Mind HK, our Here to Be partner, for the third year in promoting physical, mental, and social wellbeing. We are pleased to see that mental health has received greater attention in Hong Kong over the past year, but there is still more work to be done. Enabling the community to achieve holistic wellbeing is our priority here at lululemon.”

 

Details about Mind HK Move It for Mental Health Campaign 2023

Event Period: 1 March 2023 – 31 March 2023

Official Website: www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/

Registration link: bit.ly/moveit2023signup

Registration Period: 6 February 2023 (Monday) to 19 March 2023 (Sunday)
Fee: Free 


How to join?
Please visit www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/ for more details about the “Move it for Mental Health 2023” (#MoveItHK) challenge campaign. Interested participants can sign up through “Run2gather” via its website. Registration opens on 6 February 2023.

 

How to get your reward?

Participants who complete the goal of 30km in March 2023 and successfully submit their activity record via the “Run2Gather” app and website will be given a certificate and a chance to win a lululemon prize. Participants can complete the 30km by walking, running, hiking or a combination of any or all three out in nature, either in one go or by accumulating km over several efforts. Participants can also become #MoveItHK supporters by fundraising for Mind HK to deliver more accessible mental health support for the local community. For more information, please contact [email protected].

 

To find out more about “Move it for Mental Health 2023”, please visit: www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/

 

“Run2gather” Official Website: https://www.run2gather.com/?lang=en

iOS Download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/run2gather/id1490559376

Android Download: https://bit.ly/3Xc9Osl

 

Safety Reminders:

At Mind HK, safety is always our top priority. Given the flu season and COVID outbreaks, we ask all “#MoveItHK” participants to take extra safety precautions during this time. Please refer to government guidelines: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

 

High-res Images and to download:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fcklyq24yqnguymsu7kf8/h?dl=0&rlkey=7xpmtt2vtak72v547ewal6ey3

 

Press Enquiries:

Chance Communications

Chloe Hung / Jeff Chan
E: [email protected] / [email protected]

T: +852 6334 6038

Mind HK
Carol Liang, Deputy CEO, Mind HK 

E: [email protected]

Emet So, Communications Coordinator, Mind HK 

E: [email protected]

 

About Mind HK

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

 

Mind HK’s Social Media Platforms: 

Mind HK’s Facebook: @hongkongmind /Mind HK’s  Instagram: @mindhongkong / Mind HK’s LinkedIn: @Mind HK 香港心聆


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 partners, lululemon disrupts inequity in well-being through movement, mindfulness, and advocacy.

 

lululemon’s Social Media Platforms:

lululemon Hong Kong and Macau’s Facebook: @lululemonhk / lululemon Hong Kong and Macau’s Instagram: @lululemonhk