In celebration of National Heritage and Mental Health Awareness Month, Sentro Rizal Hong Kong collaborated with Section Juan – Hong Kong’s pioneer non-profit support group for the Filipino youth – and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) MindMatters – Hong Kong government-funded mental health initiative – to host a series of culturally immersive mental health workshop.
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πππ π΄πππππ π―πππππ πππππππ ππππππππ πΊππππππ” aims to create spaces for Filipino youth and young adults in Hong Kong to talk about mental health in the context of Philippine culture and engage with Filipino stories. Throughout the three-part workshop, participants critically engaged with Filipino cultural texts, in particular excerpts from Jose Rizal's novel, Noli Me Tangere and Cathy Garcia Molina's film, Four Sisters and a Wedding. In doing this, the workshops created a space where important discussions surrounding the historically and culturally contextualized nature of mental health. Participants were also introduced to basic knowledge pertaining to mental health first aid such as identifying risk factors and addiction concerns, strategies on helping someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations and where to seek help in Hong Kong.
Vice Consul Jose Angelo D.G. Manuel presented an overview of Sentro Rizal and shared its contribution in promoting Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world as well as its role in educating children of overseas Filipinos about their roots.
Ms. Rona Joyce Wong of Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission delivered a segment on Hong Kong's anti-discrimination ordinance with regards to mental health issues. The project allowed the participants to engage in the process of participatory storytelling and has transformed into a space of co-creation where Section Juan workshop facilitators, Dea Puentespina and Christine Vicera guided the participants to share through creative arts, particularly writing poetry, their stories about mental health.
Around 20 participants successfully attended the workshop which was held on 21, 28 May and 04 June 2023 at Sentro Rizal Hong Kong. The stories and the work the participants produced will be featured in the next series of Section Juan’s “Project I Am”. Overall, the workshop achieved its intended aim of facilitating conversations about the intersections between culture and mental health and is but one step in building community for Filipino youth in Hong Kong.
