Coolminds, a joint youth mental health initiative between Mind HK and KELY Support Group, presents the 2022 Coolminds Youth Summit this August. Under the core theme of “connection”, the Summit highlights the connection between mind and body, and the interconnectedness between people, engaging the public and young people to navigate mental health problems and break the chains of stigma through a range of activities from Saturday, 13 August to Sunday, 21 August 2022.
A public and in-person art exhibition will be open to all from Thursday, 18 August to Sunday, 21 August 2022 at D2 Place Two, Lai Chi Kok. This will feature a total of 40 pieces of multi-medium artworks, including paintings, photographs, poetry, and short films, created by local youth 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 youth and in collaboration with a local illustrator, Siusugok.
Coolminds is also hosting a two-part series of online panel discussions, available in both English and Cantonese. Clinical professionals, such as psychologists, counsellors and social workers, and youth ambassadors will talk about youth mental health in the city from multicultural perspectives. The youth ambassadors will also share lived experiences to provide insights and support to those in need. Highlight topics cover stressors for Hong Kong youth and their impact, common youth mental health conditions and signs, treatments and self-care, cultural representation and mental health for ethnically diverse youth, stigma, and barriers to speaking out, how to support youth with mental health struggles, and many more.
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 August. These will allow participants to set aside troubling thoughts and worries, release tensions and focus entirely on connecting with mind, body, and spirit through fun and relaxing experiences.