#HonestlySpeaking by Mind HK: Addressing Mental Health Stigma in HK Head-On

Mind HK's recent findings shed light on the double-edged sword of Hong Kong's mental health situation. On the one hand, there's been a promising rise in the overall mental health and well-being of Hong Kong's populace.

Earlier in June 2023, Mind HK commissioned a study involving over 1,000 local adults to delve into Hong Kong’s mental health perception. Encouragingly, the results highlighted a drop in individuals with "poor" mental well-being from 56% to 26%. However, the persisting stigma around mental health issues is concerning, as depicted by the 15% of respondents with diagnosed mental health problems.

On the flip side, however, the shadow of stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental health challenges has darkened. Reacting to this alarming trend, Mind HK and MINDSET Hong Kong, announced the launch of their month-long campaign, “#HonestlySpeaking”.

The motive behind this powerful campaign is to echo the silent struggles of numerous individuals facing mental health issues. Featuring quotes and real-life recovery stories from over 100 Mind HK ambassadors, the campaign seeks to amplify the message that nobody deserves to be alone in their battles and that recovery, though challenging, is attainable.

Carol Liang, Deputy CEO of Mind HK, emphasized the campaign's goal, saying “We aim to shed light on authentic stories of recovery, in hopes of diminishing the stigma surrounding mental health. It’s crucial for individuals to realize that seeking and providing support can make all the difference.”

These narratives, Mind HK believes, will offer solace and motivation to those navigating their own mental health journey.

As part of the campaign, Mind HK will be hosting two live sharing sessions at The Fringe Club in Central on Aug. 15 and 16, with free registrations available on their website.