It is undeniable that Hong Kong has gone through a lot in the past few years. The unprecedented social unrest, the global pandemic, gathering restrictions and isolation orders have all taken a toll on the people’s physical, emotional and mental health. Studies have shown that of those affected with a mental health disorder, three-quarters will not seek professional help. Many will continue to suffer in silence as a result of stigma – feelings of shame, lack of awareness about their condition, and a shortage of accessible professional help. Our own counsellors and therapists were also not exempted from the mental health predicament. Feeling overworked and uncertain during the pandemic, some have been driven to the brink of burnout. But with every cloud came a silver lining and a lot have rebounded from the crisis. Hence in this conference, we aim to shed light on various pressing issues that will help with the counselling and mental health practice. Most importantly, it is also to set aside a day to gather and learn together – celebrate the milestones achieved through the pandemic as we all move forward to brighter times ahead. It is about time we RISE STRONGER TOGETHER.

To start, it will be in-person and you will be learning a host of compelling and relevant topics surrounding mental health and counselling practice. Our speakers who come from different backgrounds are well selected to ensure an optimised learning experience through keynote presentations, case studies, mini-workshops and panel discussions. Our meticulously-designed agenda is based on actual practitioner needs which promises enlightening discussions.