Mind Hong Kong (Mind HK) launches #HowOkayAreYou campaign on World Mental Health Day 2019 (10 October) with the objective of inspiring Hongkongers to confront the stigma and make a pledge to change their behaviour around mental health. We flip the script on an age old question to encourages all Hongkongers to reflect on their true feelings, talk more honestly about how “okay” they are and inspire people to have daily conversations with each other about their mental well-being. It’s time to break the stigma, and talking about mental health is the key; we're here to make this easier.

How it Works

The campaign encourages people to talk more openly and honestly about their feelings and emotions, with a dedicated website offering a digital guide on “How to Ask” and a new language for having important conversations. By asking #HowOkayAreYou, people are encouraged to reflect on their feelings and likely to respond more honestly. Hongkongers can participate in the movement by visiting the website www.howokayareyou.com.

To encourage community-wide change, Mind HK ask Hongkongers to make a pledge to change their behaviour around mental health: “I pledge to ask #HowOkayAreYou and join Mind HK’s movement to confront the stigma surrounding mental health by having honest conversations about the way I feel and asking others how they feel”.

New user friendly and bi-lingual resources include videos such as “Spotting the signs” and a How to Ask Digital Guide which empowers people with a new approach and confidence to check in on each other such as tips on how to start the conversation.

A New Vocabulary: #HowOkayAreYou WhatsApp Sticker Collections

The heart of the #HowOkayAreYou campaign is a new language around Mental Health in the form of WhatsApp stickers. WhatsApp is one of the most common modes of communication in Hong Kong, and WhatsApp stickers are a popular way to engage with eachother to express feelings and emotions. Working with eight local illustrators, Mind HK launches a series of WhatsApp sticker collections. This relatable, comfortable and localized approach equips people to shift away from the standard answer of ‘okay’ by offering a vocabulary that not only identifies how they feel but also offers responses that Hongkongers can use to check in more honestly with family, friends and colleagues.

Join the #HowOkayAreYou movement

To get involved in the campaign, visit www.howokayareyou.com, following and like Mind HK’s social media pages and share the message with the hashtags #HowOkayAreYou, #你有幾OK. Help Mind HK confront the stigma around mental health and ask someone today, #HowOkayAreYou.

Research: Hong Kong’s Mental Health

The campaign is a response to the continued declining trend of mental well-being in Hong Kong. Research conducted using the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) was commissioned by Mind HK in partnership with Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) in September 2019. The survey found that 61% of respondents showed signs of “poor mental well-being, suggesting further assessment for depression is recommended”. Key research findings:

• The average well-being score for Hong Kong is 44.6 out of 100 (scores below 52 are considered poor mental well-being and unsatisfactory mental health)
• 61% of respondents showed signs of “poor mental well-being, suggesting further assessment for depression is recommended”.
• Women have significanty lower mental well-being than men. The average for women scored 42.48 and men 47.17
• 55% reported feeling cheerful and in good spirits less than half of the time or less within the two weeks prior to the study
• 61% have reported feeling calm or relaxed less than half of the time or less within the two weeks prior to the study
• 14% of participants responded to not feeling cheerful or calm at any point within the two weeks prior to the study
• 26% of respondents scored below the clinical depression cut-off score of 28 and are at higher risk of having or developing clinical depression. It is recommended for them to seek further evaluation or support.
• The average score is significantly lower than previous years (approx. 23% lower than 2012 and 12% lower than 2018) showing that talking about mental health problem is more critical than ever.



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