【Hong Kong, 7 July 2026】Following the success of its fifth anniversary exhibition “Refraction: A Journey of Our Mind” at Exchange Square in Central, local mental health charity Mind HK is once again bringing conversations into the community. Its anti-stigma campaign “More Than a Label” has launched a brand-new community event series, “Saturday Stories: Let’s Be Stigma-Free!”
Taking place over six consecutive Saturday afternoons from 4 July to 8 August 2026, the series invites members of the public to gather in welcoming neighbourhood spaces across Hong Kong to meet Mind HK’s Mental Health Ambassadors — individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges — and hear their personal recovery journeys.
The campaign is supported by The Keswick Foundation and MINDSET, and sponsored by Manulife Hong Kong and Macau.
｜Six Themes Exploring Mental Health in Everyday Life｜
The six sharing sessions explore themes closely connected to everyday life, including:
- Parental Mental Health
- Maternal Mental Health (for mothers of newborns and young children)
- Youth Mental Health — Future Prospects After Public Exam Results
- Creative & PerformingArts and Mental Health
- Men’s Mental Health
- Food and Mental Health
Together, these topics reflect the many ways mental health intersects with family, identity, creativity, relationships and wellbeing.
Each session takes place in intimate community venues — from cafés to family-friendly spaces — creating a relaxed setting for open and heartfelt conversations. Participants do not need any prior knowledge or preparation. Simply come along, enjoy a complimentary drink, and listen to a story.
In a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, attendees are invited to experience genuine human connection, deepen their understanding of mental health, and reflect on the labels that shape — and sometimes limit — how we see ourselves and others.
｜Bringing Storytelling into the Community｜
At the earlier exhibition “Refraction: A Journey of Our Mind,” many participants shared how listening to real-life stories transformed their understanding of mental health:
“The sharing by people in recovery meant a lot to me. It felt encouraging and motivated me to follow what I learned today to take care of my own wellbeing. We rarely have opportunities to openly discuss emotional health — this event felt rare and deeply moving.” — Exhibition participant
“I saw parts of myself in many of the ambassadors’ stories.” — Exhibition participant
“I used to think people would avoid talking about mental health, but through the exhibition I realised many are actually very open to discussing these topics.” — Exhibition participant
These heartfelt reflections affirm the power of storytelling in breaking stigma.
Since its launch in 2021, the “More Than a Label” anti-stigma campaign has trained over 200 Mental Health Ambassadors, creating safe platforms for individuals with lived experience to share their recovery journeys publicly. Their honest and courageous stories have encouraged the wider community to re-examine perceptions of mental health and gradually dismantle deeply rooted stereotypes.
“The (self-)stigma around mental illness used to be a hindrance for me seeking help. But once I did, it gave me the necessary tools. I am so much stronger and healthier for it. There is always hope. And there are always others who will be there for you. It certainly was the case for me and encouraged me to reach out to others even more.” —— Jan, Mental Health Ambassador
“We truly need companions on our mental health journey. Even if you fall into the deepest pit, whenever you are ready to stand up again, there is always someone willing to help you up.” —— Bosco, Mental Health Ambassador
Mind HK believes that through authentic storytelling and sincere connection, we can gradually destigmatise the labels surrounding mental health — and remind one another that no one is defined by a single label.
Join us this summer. See you on Saturday.
Event Details: “Saturday Stories: Let’s Be Stigma-Free!”
Six themes across six weekends exploring mental health in everyday life:
| Date & Time | Theme | Venue | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July (Sat) 3:00–5:00 PM | Parental Mental Health | Colour Brown Coffee 1/F, 13 Wong Chuk Street, Sham Shui Po | Cantonese |
| 11 July (Sat) 12:30–2:30 PM | Maternal Mental Health* *Specifically designed for mothers of newborns and young children. Participants are welcome to bring their children. | Baumhaus 1/F, Kar Yau Building, 36-44 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. | English |
| 18 July (Sat) 3:00–5:00 PM | Youth Mental Health — Future Prospects After Public Exam Results | Thirsty 2/F & Rooftop, 452 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan | Cantonese |
| 25 July (Sat) 3:30–5:30 PM | Creative & Performing Arts and Mental Health | TGIF Shop 4-6, G/F, Wo Fat Building, 539 Queen’s Road West, Sai Wan | Cantonese |
| 1 August (Sat) 4:00–6:00 PM | Men’s Mental Health | Verano Boxing Club Shop 23 1/F, 1 Chung Ching St, Sai Ying Pun | English |
| 8 August (Sat) 3:00–5:00 PM | Food and Mental Health | Ztoryhome G/F, 118 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun | Cantonese |
About Mind HK
Mind HK is a registered charity under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (91/16471), established in 2017. Our mission is to ensure that no one faces a mental health problem alone. Mind HK raises public awareness of mental health and works to eliminate stigma through various resources, training, outreach activities, and programmes, aiming for universal mental health. Through current collaborations and research, Mind HK aspires to make Hong Kong a global leader and regional model in the field of public mental health.
For more information about our work, vision, and mission, please visit our website: https://www.mind.org.hk/.
About More Than a Label
“More Than a Label,” developed by Mind HK, is an anti‑stigma campaign supported by The Keswick Foundation and MINDSET, and sponsored by Manulife. The programme aims to challenge public misconceptions about mental illness by empowering individuals in recovery to share their authentic stories. Through storytelling, the campaign encourages society to rethink stigma, labels, and the assumptions surrounding mental health challenges.
Learn more: https://www.mind.org.hk/news-and-events/mtal/
About The Keswick Foundation
The Keswick Foundation (KF) supports innovative, holistic, and practical solutions to address social needs in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. Guided by its vision of Changing Lives, Bringing Hope and Making Impact, KF focuses on long‑term service development and capacity building, empowering communities to create sustainable change where it is needed most.
About MINDSET
MINDSET was founded by Jardine Matheson in 2002 as the Group’s registered mental health charity. For over two decades, it has played a pioneering role in fostering inclusive communities where mental health is better understood, supported, and prioritised.
In 2026, MINDSET was integrated into The Keswick Foundation to further extend and strengthen its mental health impact across Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
About Manulife Hong Kong and Macau
Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years, while we have served the Macau market for nearly three decades. Since our operations began in Asia in 1897, we have grown into one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.6 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers.
Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited. These entities are all subsidiaries of Manulife Financial Corporation.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit https://www.manulife.com/ca/en/about-us.
Mind HK social media platforms:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mindhongkong/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindhongkong
“More Than a Label” anti-stigma campaign Instagram: www.instagram.com/morethanalabelhk/
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HD photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SgShNcXSTkDUsqR_wZ0wcSxH5eUaanqM
Media Contact:
Mind HK (Totoro Studio)
Lorraine Lau
T: (852) 6470 9678
Mind HK (Totoro Studio)
Michelle Wong
T: (852) 9147 1455
