Alongside people with mental health experience, the LGBTQ+ community is another group of people with stories to be heard by the society. The LGBTQ+ community also encounters a unique set of challenges when it comes to mental health.

Our Mind HK Ambassadors will be sharing their experience with mental health struggle and their recovery journey, discussing how discrimination impacted their mental health and strength they found within their identity to drive their recovery. Register here

Join us to celebrate our pride and our unique experiences and identities!

Date: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Time: 6:30PM – 8:00PM HKT (6:30-7PM networking event, 7PM-8PM mental health story sharing)

Mode: In person mental health sharing event

Location: Jockey Club Studio Theatre, Fringe Club

Guest: Kopal (Mind HK Ambassador) , Ranesh (Mind HK Ambassador), Kristeen (Mind HK Ambassador)

Host: Odile (Lead Clinical Advisor – Anti-stigma Project)

Language: English

Price: The event is free entry, donations are welcome and encouraged – all proceeds will go back to support Mind HK’s anti-stigma work.

Registration link: www.eventbrite.com/e/mindfully-proud-lgbtq-and-mental-health-tickets-645157793327

Guest Introduction:

Kopal (Mind HK Ambassador)

Born in New Delhi, and grown up in Hong Kong, Kopal is a city dweller at heart. She is a freelancer wearing multiple hats including writing, community management and DEI. She was diagnosed with bipolar when she was just 16, and in the last 10+ years she has worked hard to find her equilibrium. But, even on her worst dates, you can put a smile on her face with some sunshine, a hot cup of coffee and a great book! Feel free to connect on Instagram at @andshedoes

Ranesh (Mind HK Ambassador)

Ranesh is an aspiring mental health professional with a passion to support and empower individuals oppressed by the intersections of their identities. While representation of marginalised identities has markedly evolved, societies still generally overlook particular identities in favor of newfound privilege and clout. What happens to those who are unable to choose their identities, and are compelled to struggle between succumbing to supposedly liberal conventions and living their authentic selves sans judgement? How does this maniacal conflict manifest as mental distress and pathology? These are a few of the queries Ranesh delves into on his continous mental health journey.

Kristeen (Mind HK Ambassador)

Kristeen (she/her) is a Solutions Lead for a local business consultancy, where she implements sales and marketing automation for clients internationally. A Filipina born and raised in Hong Kong, she went through the local education system as an ethnic minority and hid her identity as a lesbian.

After decades of feeling “out of place”, she had a major depressive episode in college and sought counseling for the first time. In 2022, she received her ADHD diagnosis and in 2023, finally came out to her family. The biggest lesson she’s learned? Being authentic is a continuous process—the ups and downs of the journey are part of developing your inner peace.

About 我就是我 More Than A Label

“More than a Label 我就是我” is Mind HK’s campaign in partnership with MINDSET, which stems from its goal of changing and influencing the public’s perception towards persons with diagnosable mental health conditions. Funded by Jardine Matheson Group, this campaign encourages the public to look beyond the typical, stigmatising, labels associated with mental health diagnoses. Through personal stories of mental health journeys, we want to showcase realistic portrayals of people who have faced mental health problems and recovered and depict their holistic identity.

With this campaign, we hope to raise awareness of the stigma towards persons with mental health conditions, celebrate the resilience and strength of people in recovery, and educate and equip the public with mental health knowledge. We believe this will facilitate more conversation in mental health, which will in turn help destigmatise mental health in Hong Kong.