Our minds and bodies are intimately entwined in helping us achieve and lead a more fulfilling life. Many studies have shown that exercise in nature not only keeps us physically fit, but also has a positive impact on our mental health. However, over 80% of people in Hong Kong spend less than 2.5 hours on physical activity every week. This fails to meet even the World Health Organisation’s most basic recommended physical activity levels. The COVID pandemic exacerbated people’s sedentary behaviour in the city even more. About one-fifth of residents aged 15 or above report sitting or reclining for 10 hours or longer every day[2]. This has and will have a concerning effect on people’s health and mental well-being.
This coming March, the local mental health charity Mind HK will be organising its 6th annual large-scale “Move it for Mental Health 2023”challenge to raise awareness of the critical importance of a good mind-body balance through encouraging everyone to develop an active lifestyle by completing a total of 30 km in nature within the month of March. Being close to nature can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, boost our mood, and clear our minds. Mind HK is encouraging people of all ages to take a step in nature this year to feel the positive changes it brings to our bodies and mind. It’s time to keep it up if you made it last year, or here is the opportunity for you to up for a new year challenge!
Anyone can join in via “Run2gather” from 6 February 2023. Participants, or “Movers” as they are called, can achieve the goal simply by taking up their choice of outdoor physical activities, such as walking, running, or hiking along nature trails, coastal walks, or country parks and uploading their activity record to the app. Funded by Here to Be, lululemon’s social impact program, all “movers” who successfully finish the challenge and submit their activity records via the app or website before 6 April 2023, will be given a certificate and a chance to win a lululemon prize.
Take a break from the hectic pace of daily life and invite your friends and family to join you in exploring the tranquillity of our outlying islands and the green havens within the city. Embrace the beauty of nature while reconnecting with your inner self. To make your steps more impactful, you can also become a #MoveitHK supporter and help raise funds for Mind HK through the campaign to support the charity’s efforts in improving access to mental health services for the community. One of the charity’s key initiatives, iACT (Improved Access to Community Therapies), was rolled out earlier last year to train new wellbeing practitioners to deliver free, early mental health support to individuals facing mild to moderate mental health problems. Your support in this challenge will be helping Mind HK to continue its work in expanding this programme.
Details about Mind HK Move It for Mental Health Campaign 2023
Event Period: 1 March 2023 – 31 March 2023
Official Website: www.mind.org.hk/moveithk2023/
Registration Starts: 6 February 2023 (Monday)
Fee: Free
Please visit Mind HK website for more details about the “Move it for Mental Health 2023” (#MoveItHK)
challenge campaign. Interested participants can sign up through “Run2gather” via its website.
