Manulife HK and Mind HK team up to empower sustained health and wellbeing

Manulife Hong Kong and mental health charity Mind HK (香港心聆) have inked deal to address misconceptions towards mental health and empower sustained health and wellbeing. 

Manulife cited a 2017 mental health review report from Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau, which estimated that one in seven people in the city will experience a common mental disorder at any given time. However, three-quarters of those affected will not seek professional assistance.

As part of the two-year campaign, also known as “Strategic Charity Partnership”, Manulife and Mind HK will co-organise a series of awareness events, anti-stigma programmes, and ongoing training initiatives to raise mental health awareness and support the mental health services in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the partnership also aims to help advance one of Manulife’s Impact Agenda commitments to empower sustained health and wellbeing. 

In a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, the spokesperson from Manulife Hong Kong said this partnership is Manulife Hong Kong’s first major community investment aimed at addressing misconceptions and providing relevant support services towards mental health in Hong Kong.

The spokesperson added that it is a two-year commitment and investment, "This is the first partnership of this scale that Mind HK has with an insurance partner.”

The collaborated programmes set to roll out beginning in 2024 include an initiative named Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT), which is a stepped-care model for mental health services. The trained iACT practitioners will offer free, short-term, in-person, and remote support to local citizens experiencing mild to severe anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or emotional distress. The initiative aims to strengthen and support the network of graduated practitioners and enable them to effectively serve people in need.

The spokesperson added that the partnership empowers Mind HK to expand and strengthen their service network to help more people in need of mental health support. including the trained iACT wellbeing practitioners to effectively provide free mental health support to community members experiencing anxiety and depression.

In terms of public awareness-raising events, Manulife and Mind HK will invite expert speakers from clinical psychology, public health, and NGOs, as well as individuals who have firsthand experience with mental health conditions to discuss mental health topics and share personal stories of recovery. The first event is scheduled to take place on 21 June at Quarryside. 

In addition, the organisations will launch a “More than a label” anti-stigma campaign to provide training for individuals who face mental health challenges, empowering them to become ambassadors capable of effectively sharing their personal experiences through campaigns, webpages, and social media platforms. 

Done in collaboration with MINDSET Hong Kong, the initiative also aims to encourage the community to feel empowered through stories of people in recovery, educating the public about mental health, and raising awareness to reduce stigma.

The campaign will be further amplified by the planned online promotion and activation on the brands' websites and social media channels. To reach out to more members of the public, the partnership will also leverage Mind HK’s network of practitioners, ambassadors, and community partners.

Looking ahead to 2025, the organisations will organise a three-day international conference entitled “Birth, life, and mental health” to explore the evidence, psychology and cultural aspects of the entire lifespan and its relationship to mental health. The conference is expected to draw 1,000 attendees.

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Patrick Graham (pictured left), chief executive officer, Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, said: “Manulife and Mind HK share a vision to advocate for the importance of mental health and reducing unnecessary stereotypes in the city. Collaborating with Mind HK allows us to increase mental health awareness and improve accessibility to mental health support within the community.”

“Our commitment to the city and its people goes beyond financial wellbeing; we also place significant emphasis on promoting their mental and physical wellness, thereby bringing our 'body-mind-wealth' customer proposition to life. By leveraging Mind HK’s expertise and networks, we hope to change public perceptions towards mental health and foster a more inclusive society in Hong Kong,” Graham added.

Candice Powell (pictured right), CEO, Mind HK, said: “This strategic partnership between Mind HK and Manulife Hong Kong is a milestone for Mind HK. It will allow us to expand and strengthen our service network to help more people in need of mental health support and also boost public awareness to improve mental health literacy levels and reduce the stigma around mental health.” 

“We look forward to joining hands with our like-minded partner to work towards our vision of ensuring no one in Hong Kong has to face a mental health problem alone,” Powell added.

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