In April 2024, HKMU took the lead in forming the “City Companion” Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health, joining hands with various organisations to promote mental health in Kowloon City District. Over the past months, the Alliance has actively organised a range of activities, including the recently launched “Jockey Club Embrace Life Series 2.0 — Quality Mental Health Campus Project”. This initiative is hosted by one of the alliance members, the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, with HKMU as one of the supporting institutions, providing mental health support services to 20 participating secondary schools. Since its inception, the Alliance has so far benefited over 3,300 individuals.
Meanwhile, the Student Affairs Office launched a year-long Mental Health Ambassador Programme in September, themed “Connectedness,” recruiting 30 students to serve as Mental Health Ambassadors. Apart from promoting mental health on campus, the Ambassadors also engage in community service to raise awareness and understanding of related issues among people from different backgrounds.
Over the past few months, the Ambassadors took part in numerous community service activities, collaborating with the Auxiliary Medical Service Volunteer Team and the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service respectively. They conducted preliminary dementia assessment for the elderly, designed booth games to promote mental health awareness, and encouraged primary students to embrace their emotions by engaging them in emotion recognition games.
Through participation in the “Human Library by Peer Supporter” and “Star Flower Workshop” organised by SideBySide, the Ambassadors gained understanding of the challenges faced by peer supporters and learnt to care for their own mental health through artistic expression. They will subsequently join SideBySide in conducting star flower workshops at secondary schools, conveying positive messages to the youngsters.
Additionally, the Ambassadors are actively involved in organising events for the “City Companion” Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health, such as the Alliance's first “Joyful Companion” Wellness Carnival held on 23 November in Lok Fu, where the School of Nursing and Health Sciences team also participated. Featuring wellness-themed game booths, free consultations with physiotherapists, body composition measurements and a sharing session led by a physiotherapist, the carnival was held successfully with enthusiastic response from hundreds of community members.
Moving forward to 2025, the “City Companion” Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health and the HKMU Mental Health Ambassadors will continue to build a safety net of mental health for the general public and our students, injecting more positive energy into society.
