Yesterday, MINDSET – the registered mental health charity of the Jardine Matheson Group – held the Walk Up Jardine House Appreciation Ceremony, where the organisation announced the success of its annual Walk Up Jardine House (WUJH) fundraiser, raising a collective HK$5 million1 for mental health.
WUJH 2024, held under the theme "Level Up Your Mind & Body," offered a unique hybrid experience combining virtual and physical challenges to promote mental wellbeing. Participants first competed virtually over a two-week period in October, racking up steps on machines at designated "Boost-up Stations," located in workplaces, contributing to a company-wide leaderboard. More than 750 individuals participated virtually, accumulating over 5.4 million steps or the equivalent of 5,700 times up Jardine House.
The physical event, originally a 49-floor vertical race planned for early November, was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Over 500 participants had signed up to take part in the meaningful race. All donations received will continue to be channelled to local mental health NGOs and initiatives without impact.
"Mental health issues have become increasingly prevalent in Hong Kong, and it's crucial that we address them collectively," said Mr. Andrew Wong, Chairman of MINDSET. “This year’s event couldn’t have come at a better time as we reflect on the Hong Kong Government's recent Policy Address which highlighted the importance of mental health awareness. Walk Up Jardine House plays a vital role in our mission to support recovery and raise awareness. We encourage more corporates to join us in this important cause, as we build an inclusive community that prioritises mental wellbeing.”
Mr. Jonas Leong from DFI Retail Group – Wellcome, topped the virtual race leaderboard with about 261,000 steps – equivalent to 275 times up the Jardine House. Among corporates, DFI Retail Group clocked 912,000 steps and emerged as the winner of the Jardine Matheson Challenge. Meanwhile, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited led the Business Associates Challenge with 330,000 steps.
MINDSET’s plans for the future
As a key community partner in Hong Kong for over 20 years, MINDSET has been a leader in supporting mental health efforts.
Since 2002, MINDSET has channelled over HK$117 million to various mental health initiatives in Hong Kong and contributed over 77,500 hours from employee volunteers, also known as MINDSET Ambassadors.
On 2 December, MINDSET opened its second 7-Eleven franchise store at The Education University of Hong Kong. Partnering with MentalCare Connect, the store hires mental health persons-in-recovery (PIRs) intending to provide them with skills which will allow them to seek meaningful employment afterwards. The first store concept at Tseung Kwan O Hospital has provided job opportunities for over 20 PIRs.
MINDSET supports mental health initiatives by collaborating with key, long-term partners. One initiative is the Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) Programme Wellbeing Practitioner Training, a partnership between local charity Mind HK and MINDSET, where MINDSET is a founding sponsor of the programme.
The iACT® Programme follows a stepped-care model for mental health support. Since its official launch in 2022, 125 practitioners have graduated and collectively helped 5,600 individuals in their communities with early-stage mental health issues through workshops and individual sessions. The Hong Kong government has adopted this model as a pilot project to expanding community-based mental health services, focused on providing free assessments and lowintensity intervention.
Looking ahead, MINDSET will launch new initiatives focused on reintegrating persons-inrecovery back into society. Following the successful launch of its Mindbrew Pop-up café concept—which trains and employs PIRs as baristas—MINDSET will expand its operations. The first Mindbrew Pop-up store originally opened at LANDMARK ATRIUM in Central, Hong Kong, during MINDSET's 20th anniversary in 2022. Moving forward, MINDSET has a strong pipeline of initiatives that aim to support PIRs reintegration through the Jardines network and other strong network partners.
1 Includes monetary and in-kind donations