A joyous research life is one filled with friendships with trust, respect, support and space. There are no simple formulae for establishing a supportive and sustainable social network. It could be a balance between give and take, between commitment to oneself and to others.

Mental health is a crucial element for a fruitful university life of students. It is the responsibility of all university staff to promote mental well-being and incorporate relevant practices as part of the regular institutional operations. It is also the university's goal to develop a supportive, accepting and well-informed university community that respects all individuals in the promotion of mental health and well-being. Mental Health Matters was initiated this year to raise the university awareness of mental health and mobilize efforts in support of better student well-being.

We would like to thank Ms. Winnie Lui and Mr. Stephen Char for their sharing on Crisis Management and Psychological First Aid, and Mental Well-being in Facing Life Adversity during the event. Their inspiring in-depth experience impressed our students and staff a lot.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to the two speakers who suffered from Bipolar Disorder after the busking performance on 19 Oct 2018. The sharing of their experience was unique and touching. It was also great to understand that people suffering from mental disorders are able to recover well with adequate support.

•　Experience Sharing on Crisis Management and Psychological First Aid by Ms. Winnie Lui
•　Mental Well-being in Facing Life Adversity by Mr. Stephen Char
•　Lived Experience Sharing by two speakers who suffered from Bipolar Disorder

Fun and caring activities were arranged to spread the “Mental Health Matters” messages on campus.
•　Moving Wellness - A Truck to Promote Emotional Awareness
•　Dustykid - Hug My Heart Exhibition
•　Exhibition and Assessment Booth - Emotional Awareness and Healthy Lifestyles
•　Exhibition about Public Attitudes towards Mental Illness
•　Roadshow on Emotional Health - Knowing Your Feelings

The Counseling and Wellness Center organized a workshop for students to learn more about Chinese festivals and taste traditional snacks in Hong Kong.

According to Erik Erikson (1959), one of the most important psychological needs of adolescents is to develop relationships leading toward longer-term commitments with someone outside the family. LOVE1010 is a brand new initiative by the Counseling and Wellness Center this year and will be made available annually with different essential topics that students would need in developing intimate relationships, which is often not covered in normal school curriculum. In April 2018, a roadshow was held to explore with students and staff their adult attachment styles, and the following workshops and talks were conducted to equip students for a healthy and nourishing relationship with meaningful connections that meets the yearnings of being understood and loved which would light up each of us.

Stress and Emotions are unavoidable but very often misinterpreted, ignored or suppressed in our daily lives. Understanding them with awareness to their presence promotes psychological well-being by turning the perceived obstacles into treasure.

From early on in life, we develop an attachment style to our caregivers that tends to remain constant. This attachment style has a serious effect not only on our emotions, but also our relationships. Find out what your style is and how it affects your relationships by taking the assessments.

Psychiatric day hospitals are part of the ambulatory care facilities providing multidisciplinary assessment, continued care and rehabilitation to psychiatric patients. We are grateful that we had the chance to visit Yung Fung Shee Psychiatric Day Hospital c/o United Christian Hospital. The visit enhanced our learning about the facilities and services of the day hospital, deepened our understanding in helping patients’ re-integration back to the society, and encouraged our sharing with recovering patients and showing our support. It was really a very rewarding experience!

Accept changes and challenges as part of life, embrace them and turn them into opportunities for growth instead of obstacles to overcome. Psychologists term it as a “growth mindset”, in which people see themselves learning, not failing. They believe that their basic qualities can be developed through dedication and hard work. A growth mindset encourages persistence and resilience. Let’s meet the challenges and grow together!