(9 September 2024 – Hong Kong) – In honour of World Mental Health Month this October, local mental health charity Mind HK is organising its third annual fundraising campaign Mental Health Food Week 2024 from 4 – 20 October 2024 to continue promoting the crucial bond between social connections and mental health.
Themed “Hey, what’s cooking?”, Food Week features over 50 of the city’s most popular restaurants, along with bakeries, bars, and cafés to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Despite the challenging landscape facing the F&B sector in Hong Kong this year, they shine as a beacon of resilience, teaming up with Mind HK to prioritise mental health as a paramount concern in the community and demonstrating unwavering commitment to the field.
Dr Candice Powell, CEO of Mind HK said, “Food is about far more than just fuel for survival, it’s a cornerstone of our wellbeing. This special week is dedicated to raising awareness of the profound connection between what we eat and our mental health.”
According to a Mind HK survey in 2023, 62% of individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition in Hong Kong did not disclose their condition to anyone else. But the fact is that spending time with others, especially when dining, can positively influence our happiness and life satisfaction. To this end, Mind HK is inviting everyone to join Food Week, discover new culinary delights, and enjoy precious moments and conversations with loved ones at the dining table.
As part of Food Week, Mind HK is also hosting its first fundraising silent auction and raffle campaign on Galabid. Participants can place bids, or purchase raffle tickets online for a chance to win exclusive prizes such as a swimming workshop with former Olympic swimmer Yvette Kong, dining vouchers at Michelin-starred restaurants, and staycation packages. Participants can not only win these exciting rewards but also contribute significantly to improving Hong Kong’s mental health landscape. Details for the raffle campaign will be announced on Mind HK’s Mental Health Food Week official website in October. Stay tuned!
Another exciting part of the Food Week festivities is the Pici Pasta Run 2024 on 20 October 2024. This event invites participants to join in a lively run while supporting a worthy charity in pasta style. Everyone who finishes will get exclusive Pici gift bags to commemorate the experience and enjoy an authentic handmade pasta feast after the race at Pici. To register, please visit the website here.
All proceeds from these initiatives will go to further the mission of Mind HK to ensure that no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone, including free psychological support service from Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®).
Among the many eateries supporting the Food Week are returning supporters like Salisterra, and The Continental at The Upper House, Matchali, Blue Supreme, Yung Kee and the ZS Hospitality Group, plus a variety of new eateries including, but certainly not limited to, Maison Kayser, Emmer Pizzeria, Fuel Espresso and Wingman. (For restaurants offers, please refer to Appendix 2.)
Ricardo Chaneton, Chef at Salisterra, said, “Mental health in this industry is extremely important and must be prioritised. We are in the business of entertaining and hosting, so we need to be hospitable and welcoming, and remember that the happiest moments in life take place around the table. Even the word ‘restaurant’ is derived from the French word to ‘restore’, and that’s exactly what we do. We help to restore people through dining together and we find enormous joy in doing so.”
Warren Yu, Manager at Blue Supreme, said, “As a deeply rooted restaurant and bar in Hong Kong founded seven years ago, we are only as well as the health of the community we operate in. So, we are committed to the mental wellness of our team and hope to bring more awareness across the broader F&B industry through our partnership with Mind HK.”
Dr Powell invites you to, “take some time during Mind HK’s Mental Health Food Week to dine out with friends and family, foster new connections and create more beautiful moments to cherish. By doing this, you can help us to promote mental wellness, raise funds for mental health initiatives, and bring people together through the transformative power of food – one delicious bite at a time.”
Check out the full list of participating F&B outlets and their offers at www.mind.org.hk/mentalhealthfoodweek2024/. Spark meaningful conversations with your loved ones over food, to support your own and others’ mental health, and generously, the work of Mind HK this October!
High-Resolution Images to Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6hj5qpdqflfj6xewmijw3/AHT_ZiBySkAXoAa0XJ4VrQU?rlkey=o27061erb2m07glh77ujaveb8&st=due8phql&dl=0
Appendix (1) – List of Silent Auction Items and Raffle Prizes:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TfEHx2JeMVJOnfO03gjhW6sjEdLA9uKg/view?usp=sharing
Appendix (2) – Mind HK Mental Health Food Week 2024 – Full list of restaurant offerings:
https://www.mind.org.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mind-HK-Mental-Health-Food-Week_List-of-Participating-Restaurants-1.pdf
Press Enquiries:
Chance Communications
Mandy Chan / Jeff Chan
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
T: +852 2509 3308
Mind HK
Clara Kwok, Acting Head of Communications, Mind HK
E: [email protected]
About Mind HK
Mind HK is a mental health charity (S88 registered – 91/16471) here to ensure no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone. Through our work, we hope to improve awareness of mental health and mental health conditions, remove the associated stigma, and provide accessible psychological support with the aim of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. Together with the existing collaboration and research efforts, we are here to support Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health.
Mind HK’s Social Media Platforms:
Mind HK’s Facebook: @hongkongmind /Mind HK’s Instagram: @mindhongkong / More Than A Label Instagram: @morethanalabelhk
