Hello! This is Jake Yeow from Hong Kong Branch.

Since 2020, COVID-19 pandemic has created more isolation in the world due to lockdown, including mandatory quarantine, self-isolation, work from home arrangement, different kind of social distancing and so on. However, these measures have been shown to cause a number of serious mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In order to increase the awareness on the mental health of our branch staff, the Social Value Committee of Hong Kong Branch had organized a workshop with a non-profit organization called “Mental Health Association of Hong Kong” (MHAHK) in November 2021.

MHAHK, which was established in 1954, is a non-profit-making social service organization with the aim of promoting mental health. Guided by the organization’s vision of “mental health for all”, we are committed to the mission of “providing quality rehabilitation services to service users”, “building a positive workshop with the team” and “promoting mental health to the public”.

MHAHK has developed a comprehensive range of community rehabilitation services, including residential care, community support, day training, vocational rehabilitation, employment support and special education, to continue to take care of the different needs of the mentally ill, the mentally handicapped and the disabled on a holistic basis.

Through the connection between MHAHK and Rick (one of our Social Value Committee member of Hong Kong Branch), we organize an activity with MHAHK on 19 November 2021 to have a leather product crafting workshop, in order to support those patients with mental illness.

.

This workshop was the first Social Value activity held outside the office. It is to promote SDGs No.8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, No.10 Reduced Inequalities and No.17 Partnerships for the Goals.

The tutors of this workshop are those patients who have recovered or is recovering from different degrees of mental illness. It aims to provide them with job opportunities, to develop their social skills and to set up a platform for them to gain the ability to work in the society as normalin the future.

The takeaway of the workshop was more than just a pretty cardholder, but we become more aware and have more understanding towards people in need in our community.