Our drive system and threat system have been collaborating well to motivate us to strive better and protect us from threats. However, when there is an imbalance, we are tempted to be self-critical when we cannot archive the standard we gave ourselves.

Drawing on the biological and theoretical underpinnings of compassion-focused therapy, Dr. Melissa Chan, clinical psychologist from the Central Mind shared tips to build up our soothing system. She facilitated a few experiential exercises to help participants connect with their "angry self", "anxious self", "sad self", and other emotional selves. Participants were guided to switch from thinking mode to sensing mode and approach their source of distress with curiosity. The workshop provided valuable insights on how to give ourselves the compassion we need in moments of suffering and cultivate a more balanced and compassionate approach towards ourselves.

Horticultural therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes plants, gardens, and nature-related activities to support individuals in achieving therapeutic goals and improving their overall well-being. Horticultural therapy has been shown to have a range of benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, enhancing cognitive abilities, promoting relaxation, and fostering a sense of connection with the natural world.

This workshop was facilitated by Dr Nicolson Siu, a registered Horticultural Therapist of the Hong Kong Association of Therapeutic Horticulture as well as a lecturer of Division of Social Science, HKUST. Participants were able to utilize their creativity to create and design the herbarium. Participants were also invited to share their design with other participants, they learnt to overcome the difficulties during the process and appreciate their efforts in creating the herbarium.

Herbarium can be kept for six months to a year. Tips on how to nurture and take care of the herbarium were also shared.

The JUSTalk Series rides on the concept of Human Library, where participants formed small groups and listened to personal stories of the Peer Companions from the Counseling and Wellness Center and Ambassadors from Alliance of Ex-mentally Ill of Hong Kong (AEMIHK).

While the challenges came in different forms and shapes, our human books shared their interpretations and how they made space to navigate through the unexpected and came to where they are now. Learning is never a linear process, and it is okay to experience fear or other emotions in response to uncertainty initially and metamorphose to be the best we can be. Focus on what is within our reach, such as daily routines, connections with loved ones, informal and professional support could help us regain a sense of agency and stability amidst life’s predictable unpredictability.

Through open dialogues, participants and the human books exchanged practice wisdom and learned from each other, creating a supportive and empowering experiences in their personal development journey.

Life could be repetitive, overwhelming, and tiring in face of multiple expectations and choices. Mr Ron Tan, counselor from WeWah Music and One Bite Social, shared with participants the way to discover meaning to keep us going through the lens of logotherapy.

Instead of asking ourselves “why did this happen to me”, Ron shared the story of Viktor E. Frankl as well as his personal experiences to ask and answer questions from the other perspectives, i.e., "what does the world need from me?” and “what can we give to life?”.

By the end of the workshop, participants learnt the three avenues to life meaning and how to find an exit when things seem overwhelming.

Life presents us with various challenges, and it is inevitable that we will encounter both moments of triumph and periods of difficulty. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) is a simple and powerful process to develop tools to enhance participants’ awareness and abilities in dealing with health problems, daily maintenance plan, and crisis planning.

In the workshop, two WRAP® Facilitators, Ms Artemis Leung, and Mr Sing Sung from New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, leveraged on the interactive activities and videos to explain the five core recovery concepts of WRAP®, which include hope, personal responsibility, education, self-advocacy, and support. The six core stages of WRAP® and various wellness tools were also explored and identified to cope with the crisis and maintain overall well-being respectively.

By the end of the workshop, participants were able to plan for the crisis and navigate the ups and downs in life.

Insomnia has become a growing concern and a noticeable trend in recent years. People with insomnia often have trouble initiating or maintaining sleep and may feel tired and unrefreshed upon waking, which is extremely frustrating.

In this workshop, Dr. Olivia Ma, clinical psychologist at the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, leveraged on case studies and learning videos to explain the causes of insomnia and how insomnia affects various areas of our life. Having low level of concentration, reduced motivation, physical health problems, and reduced social functioning are common challenges faced by people with insomnia.

Insomnia coping strategies drawn from the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy were shared to facilitate participants in engaging in relaxation and mindfulness exercises. Keeping track on a sleep diary is also effective in understanding more about the sleep hygiene. By the end of the session, participants could apply these strategies in their daily life to cope with sleep problems and have a good sleep.

The "Resilience Allyship" workshop was delivered to educate individuals about the mental health struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community and provide them with the tools to offer affirming support.

The workshop, led by Odile, a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner and Lead Clinical Advisor for the Anti-Stigma Project at MindHK, emphasized the importance of understanding LGBTQ+ stressors that impact mental health. Throughout the interactive workshop, participants engaged in discussions, Q&A sessions, and shared their experiences, allowing them to explore the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

They learned about affirming support and how it can positively impact mental well-being. The workshop also highlighted considerations when helping someone from the LGBTQ+ community seek support, taking into account the specific needs and hurdles they may encounter. External resources were provided to help participants further seek assistance and information.

Overall, the workshop provided a valuable platform for participants to deepen their understanding of LGBTQ+ mental health issues, become more effective allies, and foster a more inclusive and affirming society.

Life is like a story, with transitional phases and many ups and downs. Yet, storytelling could act as an influential role in helping us to make sense of our life experiences, navigate challenges, and shape our passion and purpose in life.

In this workshop, Ms. Steph Ng, a researcher, mental health advocate, and founder of the Body Banter, shared her personal experiences of navigating eating disorder in her teens and how this experience shaped her passion in learning more about Psychology and pursuing further study in Linguistic. Storytelling is a smooth outlet for emotions, and participants were offered opportunities to reflect and understand their thoughts during the process. Facing setbacks is not something to be afraid of, all participants learnt a lesson from this “Chapter”.

By the end of the workshop, Steph also shared some practical tips for participants to practice storytelling beyond the workshop. These tips include keeping a daily/weekly journal, keeping voice memos of noteworthy events in everyday life, and organizing monthly “reflection circles” with friends.

Anyone could be allies to promote men’s mental health, learned about their own mental health needs and take appropriate actions in looking after it.

Youth Wellbeing Practitioners from Mind HK, Mr. Jacky Chow and Ms. Victoria Tam, discussed local statistics on men's mental health and common problems faced by men, including the impact of cultural expectations. Obstacles that men face when seeking help were also explored and the DOTS framework (Distraction, Opting Out, Thinking Strategies, Substance and other Strategies) was introduced to find out if those methods are workable in the long term to lead us a rich and meaningful life.

Riding on the concept of acceptance, Victoria and Jacky discussed the differences between being aware of our thoughts and feelings and avoiding or denying them. The choice-point theory was introduced, and participants were provided relevant tips to promote psychological flexibility and self-care.

To conclude the Empowering Family Harmony Project and in response to the survey results, the Counseling and Wellness Center had launched the Exhibition “Getting in Touch with the Elephant in the Room” at Academic Concourse outside LT-A from 26 February to 5 March 2024. Personal stories from a group of students were showcased and attracted more than 800 anonymous responses from students and staff. The majority of memos collected are surrounding academic (e.g., getting high GPA, mid-term, etc.), worries about future, and wishes to make new friends/get into a relationship.

Along with other psychoeducation materials, we hope to raise awareness, break down prejudices, re-establish connections, and regain strength to empower family harmony for mental wellness.

For those who have missed the exhibition, you could still read some of the personal stories and responses from our Student Counselors and Peer Companions on the website archive.

Let’s co-create a compassionate university community together!

More details: https://sites.google.com/view/elephant-in-the-room-2024/home