Youths with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety often feel like outcasts in an Asian society which tends to sweep such things under the carpet.
To help them navigate their problems and break the stigma, Coolminds, a joint youth mental health initiative between Mind HK and KELY Support Group, is holding the 2022 Coolminds Youth Summit from this Saturday until August 21.
All the events in the summit are free and consist of an art exhibition and a series of fun online activities, ranging from bilingual panel discussions, art workshops, yoga and mindfulness workshops.
Said Nicole Lee from Mind HK, who is also Coolminds' project manager: "With the pandemic still very much impacting us, our youths have expressed feeling disconnected from their community, friends, and even themselves. Hence, we decided that this year our theme would be 'Connection.' We wanted to use youth voices to celebrate and explore our connection with the people around us, as well as the connection between our body, mind and spirit."
The art exhibition, open to the public from August 18 to 21, will show 40 multi-media artworks created by local youths and focused on expressing their connection with mental health.
A message corner will also be set up on-site where participants can write messages to themselves or others. There will also be a souvenir corner for participants to take for free or purchase souvenirs designed by local youths and in collaboration with a local illustrator, Siusugok.
Said Lee: "We hope to emphasize the importance of connection and youth mental health. The art exhibition serves as a platform to empower youth voices. We also hope that by inviting the public to join our art exhibition and activities, we can achieve our mission at Coolminds, which is to continue to raise public awareness of youth mental health, break the chains of mental health stigma, and better equip ourselves to support youths in Hong Kong."
Coolminds is also hosting a two-part series of online panel discussions, available in both English and Cantonese.
"We have invited mental health professionals, youth with lived experience, and those who have a passion for mental health and arts to share their insights on these topics," said Lee.
"We hope that through dialogue from multiple perspectives, we can engage the public in having more open conversations about mental health."
Topics range from stressors for Hong Kong youths and common youth mental health conditions to cultural representation and mental health for ethnically diverse youths, barriers to speaking out, and how to support youth with mental health struggles.
In addition, several online artistic and mindfulness workshops, also available in English and Cantonese, including pastel nagomi art workshop, laughter yoga workshop, and a mindfulness workshop, will also be hosted throughout the summit.
These will allow participants to set aside troubling thoughts and worries, release tensions and focus entirely on connecting with mind, body, and spirit.
The target age is between 14 and 24 years old but "anyone who is interested in art and understanding more about youth mental health, or wants to start conversations around youth mental health, is welcome," said Lee, adding that the organizers are hoping to reach over 500 youths.
"One of Coolminds' project fundamentals is to raise youth mental health awareness through a whole-school approach," she said.
"Apart from youths, we also hope to invite parents and adults, especially teachers and mental health professionals, and those interested in gaining insights on youth mental health, to join us in this event and learn how to better support the youths in Hong Kong."
Website: bit.ly/coolmindsys22
ivy.ong@singtaonewscorp.com
