International and local mental health experts come together to launch
‘Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2020: Youth in Focus’ presented by Mind HK

 Online registrations are now live via https://hkmentalhealthconference.com/

 

(Hong Kong, 27 August) Presented by Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK), the ‘Hong Kong Mental Health Conference 2020: Youth in Focus’ and ‘Hong Kong Youth Summit’ will take place from 6-8 November 2020 and will be a hybrid conference with a mix of virtual and in-person events. Registrations are now open via https://hkmentalhealthconference.com/.

Organised by Mind HK and funded by MINDSET and Jardine Matheson, the bilingual (English and Cantonese) three-day event will consist of two parts and 45+ local and international speakers. The venues have been sponsored by  Hongkong Land and the event will take place at Centricity. The Hong Kong Mental Health Conference (6-7 November), the second of Mind HK’s triennial conferences, is aimed at clinical mental health professionals, NGOs, and educators, and will showcase the best local and international research, innovation and best practice in youth mental health. The inaugural Hong Kong Youth Summit (8 November), focusing on engaging Gen Z Hongkongers into the mental health conversation, will be organised for youth by youth and Coolminds, a joint initiative between Mind HK and KELY Support Group. The development of the Youth Summit has been sponsored by Morgan Stanley.

Dr. Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK: “With 75% of all mental health problems arising before the age of 24 and with the added stressors that have come with Covid-19, the need to invest in improved prevention initiatives and early intervention programs for Hong Kong’s youth is more important than ever. We hope that this year’s event will enable us to further support our youth and highlight the need to develop programmes that promote and improve their mental health.”

 

Hong Kong Mental Health Conference: Day 1 & 2

Taking place on 6-7 November 2020 both virtually and in-person, the Hong Kong Mental Health Conference brings together international and local youth mental health experts to share their expertise on a number of topics ranging from the perinatal period to transitioning into the workplace. The sessions will engage professionals and educators in the community and encourage powerful conversations to help scale up existing youth programmes, introduce new mental health initiatives, foster impactful partnerships, and translate international and local best practice into concrete programmes in Hong Kong and beyond.

Esteemed international speakers joining virtually include Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Host of the Happiness Lab Podcast, Professor Patrick McGorry, Executive Director of Orygen, and Professor Dinesh Bhugra, Professor Emeritus of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at Kings College London and President of the World Psychiatric Association (2014-2017). The line-up of local speakers include Dr Roger Ng, President of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, Dr Grace Ho, Assistant Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Yvette Kong, Hong Kong Olympic Swimmer.

Jeremy Parr, Chairman of MINDSET: “As a charity established by the Jardine Matheson Group in 2002, MINDSET has a long-standing commitment to championing mental health in Hong Kong and challenging stigma in communities. Now, more than ever before, is the time to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing and to take action through advocacy, engagement and partnership. We are pleased to support this year’s Conference and collaborate with Mind HK to empower the participants with knowledge and skills to support the wider community, especially our youth.”

 

Youth Summit: Day 3

Following the conference, the Youth Summit will be held in a virtual format, with an in-person option, on 8 November 2020 with the overarching theme “Resilience: Supporting each other and ourselves”. The event is being organised by the event’s youth ambassadors together with Coolminds, Mind HK and KELY Support Group’s joint youth mental health initiative. MINDSET and Jardine Matheson are funding this event and Morgan Stanley has funded its development. The Youth Summit aims to engage 12-24 year olds through interactive sessions, panel discussions, stories of lived experiences, and more.

 

Key topics that will be addressed at the summit include: fostering positive mental health and resilience; reaching out for support; lived experiences; peer support movements and initiatives; managing academic pressures; and navigating the online world safely and positively.

KC Wong, Executive Director, Community Affairs of Morgan Stanley: “Now more than ever, we need urgent attention and concerted actions to respond to the growing global mental health crisis affecting young people. We are delighted to support the inaugural Youth Summit to help address mental health concerns and the far-reaching challenges of stress, anxiety and depression among the young.”

 

Registration:

Attendees will have access to a digital programme and will be able to express interest in attending in-person (subject to public gathering restrictions). Early bird tickets will be on sale from 27 August 2020. With the many uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic, the organising team will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidance from the Hong Kong Government.

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Website: www.hkmentalhealthconference.com

Ticket registration: http://www.ticketflap.com/hkmhcys

 

About Mind Hong Kong:

Mind HK is a registered S88 charity (91/16471) committed to improving awareness and understanding of mental health in Hong Kong. They collaborate with other local and international mental health charities and provide online support and training programmes, based on global best practice, to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and equip them with the resources they need. Through collaborative research, Mind HK is leading the way in understanding mental health problems in the city and providing its population with the right support and resources.

Coolminds is a joint initiative between Mind HK and KELY Support Group, and promotes mental health awareness, support and understanding in Hong Kong’s youth and those around them.

Anyone in Hong Kong who needs help with their mental health can be assured that they are entitled to the full support of Mind HK irrespective of their gender, race, background or beliefs. To be effective and credible, Mind HK operate as a neutral and impartial humanitarian charity without any political affiliations or other conflicts of interest. The work we do, especially our research, is dedicated to improving the health of vulnerable groups and maintaining the best mental health possible for all of Hong Kong. We hope that anyone reporting or commenting on our work will respect and support our independence and neutrality.

 

About MINDSET

One in four people in the world will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Mental health recovery is a life-long journey. It is about embracing self-determination and positivity in our lives. MINDSET’s goal is to change people’s attitudes to mental health sufferers by reducing stigma of mental illness by raising awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders and the effectiveness of seeking help. MINDSET is a registered charity in Hong Kong established by the Jardine Matheson Group in 2002 and supported by Jardines employees, partner NGOs and organisations. Visit their Facebook page @MINDSETHongKong and website at mindset.org.hk to learn more about MINDSET.

 

About Jardine Matheson

Jardine Matheson is a diversified Asian-based group with unsurpassed experience in the region, having been founded in China in 1832. The Group operates principally in Greater China and Southeast Asia through a large number of subsidiaries and affiliates. These companies are active in the fields of motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, transport services, restaurants, luxury hotels, financial services, heavy equipment, mining, energy and agribusiness. For more information, please visit jardines.com.

 

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services.  With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals.  For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

 

Media Contacts
For information or interviews, please contact Sinclair

Sarah Chow      | [email protected]      | (852) 5932 9980

Nikki McLucas   | [email protected]       | (852) 6895 0534

 

For emergency support please contact the below services:

Samaritans 24-hour hotline (Multi-lingual): (852) 2896 0000

Samaritan Befrienders 24-hour hotline (Cantonese only): 2389 2222

Suicide Prevention Services 24-hour hotline (Cantonese only): (852) 2382 0000

More crisis support services can be found here: mind.org.hk/find-help-now

More non-urgent support services can be found here: https://www.mind.org.hk/community-directory/