bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Eddie Lee

Charlotte Pang, 16, thinks her peers nowadays face lots of pressure and the mental health of young people is at risk.
“There’re a lot of opportunities in Hong Kong. However, there’s a lot of stress that comes with it because everyone is always competing,” she said.
The Grade 11 pupil believes young people having emotional problems should talk to others and ask for support.
That kind of help is now more obtainable, with a new programme being set up by two local groups to guide teenagers on the mental health journey.
Under their “Coolminds” project, Mind HK and KELY Support Group are holding activities to give mental health information to teachers, parents and pupils and promote mental health literacy.

Their team will train parents, teachers and educators to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems in young people.
There will be discussions on sleep strategies, stress management and other ways to give help to the youngsters.
The scheme is funded by Operation Santa Claus, the annual charity fundraiser organised by the South China Morning Post and government broadcaster RTHK.
Hannah Reidy, CEO of Mind HK, said the team wanted to raise public awareness of young people’s mental health.


“We conducted some research recently and found that there was quite a high level of stigma and quite a low level of awareness around mental health,” she said, adding that most people thought the situation was unacceptable and wanted to change it.
Sky Siu, executive director of the KELY Support Group, noted that the project would help youngsters cope with the stigma associated with mental health problems.
A huge part of our programme is to enable the young people to confront and share openly their stories
Sky Siu, KELY Support Group executive director
“A huge part of our programme is to enable young people to confront and share openly their stories,” she said.
“When they share these stories with their peers and with their community, they are then empowered to stand up and say: this is not a stigma issue. This is something we should all be talking about and it can start with me.”
The team will bring international speakers to sessions for educators, parents and students, and share international best practice in youth mental health.
Siu said they wanted to break the myth that only clinical professionals could provide effective support.
“[The process] sometimes starts with the people around them – being empathetic listeners and being willing to hear what they may have been struggling with,” she said.
Charity helps intellectually disabled find their artistic streak
“The reality is that a mother, a father, a friend, a cousin, a brother and a sister can all be there to help somebody who is struggling.”
Linda Sim, a parent, was pleased to know that teens can seek the Coolminds team.
Shirralee Sisson, a school counsellor, believed that teachers, parents and young people could all benefit from being trained and empowered to deal with mental health issues.
How you can give:
● Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com/donate
● Donate at an ATM or at any HSBC branch (account no: 502-676299-001 for SCMP Charities Ltd – Operation Santa Claus)
● Donate with a cheque payable to “SCMP Charities Ltd – Operation Santa
Claus” and mail it to: Operation Santa Claus, South China Morning Post, 19/F, Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
● Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you would like a tax receipt,
please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your
name, address and phone number, to the above address. Please call +852 2680 8159 or
email osc@scmp.com with any inquiries, or visit us online at osc.scmp.com


Operation Santa Claus: Hong Kong healthcare workers cook-off for charity

Hong Kong Disneyland postcard service adds some magic to charity drive

Operation Santa Claus: furry monster charity drive at Hong Kong shopping centre

Operation Santa Claus: runners don festive outfits for Hong Kong charity race

Operation Santa Claus

Coolminds programme aims to guide Hong Kong’s teenagers on mental health journey

(Left to right) Hannah Reidy, Shirralee Sisson, Charlotte Pang, Sky Siu and Linda Sim. Photo: Felix Wong

(left to right): Linda Sim, Parent & Volunteer; Hannah Reidy, Chief Executive Officer of Mind HK; Charlotte Pang; Sky Siu, Executive Director of KELY Support Group; and Shirralee Sisson, counsellor at an international school, photographed during an interview at KELY Support Group office in Central for Operation Santa Claus (OSC). 15OCT18 SCMP / Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Society


Scheme set up by Mind HK and KELY Support Group will hold activities to give mental health information to teachers, parents and pupils
Team wants to break myth that only clinical professionals can provide effective support



Scheme set up by Mind HK and KELY Support Group holding activities to give mental health information to teachers, parents and pupils


Coolminds programme aims to guide Hong Kong’s teenagers on mental health journey

Scheme set up by Mind HK and KELY Support Group will hold activities to give mental health information to teachers, parents and pupils Team wants to break myth that only clinical professionals can provide effective support

Scheme set up by Mind HK and KELY Support Group will hold activities to give mental health information to teachers, parents and pupils

Team wants to break myth that only clinical professionals can provide effective support