Celebrate World Mental Health Month with Mind HK’s Mental Health Restaurant Week 2023 this October!
Indulge in culinary delights from over 90 of the city’s most beloved eateries to improve mental health in Hong Kong
(3rd October 2023 – Hong Kong) – Following the success of last year’s Mental Health Restaurant Week, local mental health charity Mind HK is thrilled to announce its second annual “Mind HK Mental Health Restaurant Week 2023” from 14th October to 29th October, 2023.
The “Restaurant Week”, taking place in honour of World Mental Health Day on 10th October, has been curated to remind people of the vital link between social connection and mental health. To do this, the charity has partnered with over 90 of the city’s most beloved restaurants and cafés to inspire individuals to enjoy precious moments with loved ones around the dining table while, at the same time, promote awareness of mental health, and fundraise to support the mental health of communities locally.
The public can contribute meaningfully and leave a lasting impact on Hong Kong’s mental health landscape through participating in this year’s Restaurant Week. The proceeds generated from Restaurant Week’s partners will be donated to support Mind HK’s cause of enhancing accessibility to free community-based mental health services for people in need, building a supportive, stigma-free community for all, and advancing its mission to ensure no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone.
According to Mind HK’s latest research conducted in June 2023 with a sample size of over 1,000 local adults, 26% of respondents scored lower than 52 out of 100 on the World Health Organisation (WHO-5) Well-Being Index, indicating “poor” overall mental well-being. It also discovered that 15% of respondents reported being diagnosed with a mental health problem. This highlights the continued prevalence of mental health issues in the city. However, less than 30% of individuals facing a mental health condition receive appropriate support. This is partially attributed to the shortage of accessible, professional services as well as stigmatisation by society.
There is evidence to show that the social bonding from eating together is linked to overall satisfaction of life and wellbeing, it can also support the prevention and onset of mental health disorders, including depression.
Carol Liang, Deputy CEO of Mind HK, said: “Social support and connection are known as protective elements of good mental health, and we want to raise awareness of these benefits more widely via our Mental Health Restaurant Week. We are beyond grateful to all our F&B partners and prospective diners for uniting together to bring people closer to foster mutual support and raise vital funds and awareness for Mind HK.”
Themed “Food for Thought, Time to Talk”, Mind HK’s Mental Health Restaurant Week 2023 has a wide range of popular F&B outlets as their participating restaurants. From cherished Chinese and Western eateries to Thai, Korean and Japanese restaurants, as well as bakeries, bars and cafés scattered throughout the city. Invite your loved ones to enjoy a diverse range of delicacies and mindful menus, from a quick coffee run, Friday Happy Hour, or a weekend feast!
In addition to returning supporters, such as Bakehouse and various restaurants under LKF Concepts and The Langham Hospitality Group, a wide array of new restaurants have also been added to the list this year. Highlighted new eateries for this year include, but are certainly not limited to, Blue Supreme, Pret A Manger, Feather & Bone, Hansik Goo, Hungry Dino, Frites and more. (*For highlighted restaurants offers, please refer to Appendix 1)
Participating for the second year; Grégoire Michaud, founder of Bakehouse, said: “Amongst the most important physiological human needs lies food. Food is a need born in every person and as such it becomes linked to one’s feeling of safety, love, wellness, belonging and self-esteem. With our ever-growing busy lifestyles, meals too often become just a quick snack eaten alone whilst browsing our phone, drifting us away from the very core function of sharing a meal as a social species. As bakers, the sense of the popular idiom “Breaking bread together” has never sounded so important to us and ours as in supporting Mental Health Restaurant Week and Mental Health as a whole.”
Dodd Paul Timothy, Executive Chef – Western, Eaton HK, said: “At Eaton HK, we believe that mental health is deeply and fundamentally connected to our sense of wellbeing. We’re happy to work with Mind HK, an important organisation that aims to destigmatise mental health issues and support those in need within our community. Our partnership with Mind HK began in 2022 during the pandemic, when Hong Kong’s pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities and mental health issues worsened. In the past, we’ve collected donations via our dining outlets, The Astor and Yat Tung Heen, as well as launching special menu items and drinks with healthy ingredients that support brain function. We are looking forward to this year’s activations in October.”
To further increase awareness for Restaurant Week, Mind HK has partnered with creative agency and technology company, Shadow Factory to develop an engaging Instagram filter. Leveraging augmented reality (AR) technology, the filter allows users to showcase their support for Restaurant Week and spread awareness of Mind HK’s mission. Users can embrace a moment of clarity, capture their dining experience, and share with friends and followers. Access the filter here and join the movement.
Check out the full list of restaurants and their offers here, and reserve a meal for you and your loved ones, to support your own and others’ mental health, and generously, the work of Mind HK’s, this October! For more information about Mind HK’s Mental Health Restaurant Week 2023, please visit www.mentalhealthrestaurantweek.com.
Hashtags: #mindhk #mentalhealthrestaurantweek #FoodforThoughtTimetoTalk
Details about “Mind HK’s Mental Health Restaurant Week 2023”
Date: 14 October to 29 October 2023
For participating restaurants and more information about the campaign, please visit the official website: www.mentalhealthrestaurantweek.com
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
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 their work, vision, and mission, please visit www.mind.org.hk/.
Mind HK’s Social Media Platforms: Mind HK’s Facebook: @hongkongmind / Mind HK’s Instagram: @mindhongkong
High-Resolution Images to Download:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D5SGEVEkrFPXoRwP9tVbbd079bJkt8ap?usp=sharing
Appendix (1)
Mind HK Mental Health Restaurants Week 2023 – Highlight restaurant offerings details
Full List: www.mentalhealthrestaurantweek.com
Full list of restaurant offerings: https://www.mentalhealthrestaurantweek.com/-restaurant-offerings
| Sample eateries & offerings | |
Bakehouse:
|
Singular Concepts (inc. Barkada, The Daily Tot, Tell Camellia, Bianco & Rosso and YURAKUCHO)
|
|
LKF Concepts Restaurants:
|
The Langham Hospitality Group Restaurants:
|
Pret A Manger
|
Blue Supreme:
|
Frites
|
Feather & Bone
|
Honky Tonks Tavern
|
Mendel’s Delicatessen
|
Yung Kee Restaurant
|
Vivere
|
Hansik Goo
|
Hungry Dino
|
Forbidden Duck
|
Tanuki Coffee
|
In/Depth
|
Pa Shih
|
