Mindful together: How to get involved with mental health charities in HK

In recent years it’s become difficult to not to know someone who hasn’t been affected by the lack of support and resources towards mental health, either for themselves or someone they love, and with Hong Kong’s Mental Health Review revealing the increasing rise of mood disorders across the city, it really is now or never to get involved.

For many of us, it’s not that we don’t want to volunteer our time, it’s that we don’t know where to start. That’s why here at Gafencu we’ve done the research for you, and have put together a list of mental health charities in HK that would love your help.

Hands on Hong Kong

Acting as an initiative of Patient Care Foundation, Hands on Hong Kong wants to ensure that no one faces their mental health battles alone. Providing information and busting myths about stereotypes and common misconceptions about mental well-being, Hands On gives out both English and Chinese pamphlets to the public. For those wanting to get involved, they’re always looking for volunteers to hand out leaflets across the city and will provide those interested in a short training session on how to be a better mental health advocate.

Mind Hong Kong

Mind Hong Kong certainly has a worthy mission with the charity aiming to provide every Hongkonger struggling with mental health with recognition, support and respect. The organisation not only offers collaborations and training to businesses looking to get more involved with the cause but also researches and audits international strategies to improve the recovery process for those in need of help. Besides the standard cash donation, Mind Hong Kong is also in need of individuals who can help share their skills in web design, fundraising, and speaking.

Kely Support Group

Working as an outreach programme across Hong Kong, Kely Support Group hopes to inspire young adults to reach their potential through services such as peer support, technical and creative skills which will help them steer clear of drug and alcohol abuse, along with other such high-risk behaviours. To help out with Kely you can enlist as either an individual volunteer or include the whole office!

PathFinders

While not explicitly a mental health charity, Pathfinders provides non-partisan humanitarian services to migrant workers within Hong Kong. Helping those who are among the most vulnerable in the city, the organization aims to fill in the gaps often left in the sectors of social welfare and support, healthcare, education and access to justice. By providing expecting mothers and their children a safe place to rest and be heard, the organization has helped over 6,000 migrants and their babies in the past 10 years. Pathfinders offer a variety of ways to get involved such as volunteering, donating money or supplies such as baby clothing, old mobile phones and sanitary items.

Northern Steps: Discover northern Asia’s hiking trails

While we may be able to avoid the snowy touch of winter here in Hong Kong, our northern-nation neighbors are not so lucky, but with Spring but already sprung now is the perfect time to hop a plane and pack your hiking boots for a trip northward. Indeed, with a boundless amount of hiking trails in Northern Asia, it can be difficult to narrow down which ones should top our to-do lists in a world never before so friendly for travel. Fortunately, we’ve had the time to climb a mountain or two for you and report back with our top results.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

China

Now just a quick train ride of five or so hours, thanks to the high-speed train from West-Kowloon station, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park appears to be right out of a lucid dream. However, the national park is indeed a sure thing with a beauty arguably unmatched, so much so that it was featured in the James Cameron blockbuster Avatar (2010). The unique geological formations are plentiful, with rushing rivers and trails for days. You won’t want to exclude Zhangjiajie from your bucket list, but be sure to go during off season as the sudden fame of the park has propelled visitors into the millions.

The Imperial Route to Kumano

Japan

A cherished park in Japan for over 1,000 years, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route is now a registered UNESCO world heritage site and for good reason. Enjoy a stroll down the same trails that once were taken by retired emperors and aristocrats, offering routes for both short walks and multi-day treks. To give your feet a deserved break, treat yourself to one of the many traditional accommodations of the area and take a dip into the hot springs.

Odaesan National Park

South Korea

For those eager to explore South Korea’s North-Eastern region, you best start with Odaesan Nation Park found some 144 kilometers east from the nation’s capital of Seoul. As the place to be for anyone looking to be at one with nature, Odaesan is chock-full of well-marked trails and even child-friendly. Enjoy the calming sounds of the river, and make sure to stop into the Sangwonsa Temple before calling it a day.

hiking trails in Northern Asia — *Photo: Bailey Atkinson*

Taroko National Park

Taiwan

Bearing its name from the local Truku aboriginal tribe, Taroko National Park is not only one of the most beautiful sights in Taiwan, but in the world. For those searching for a truly marveling view which has been scantily touched by man, will be delighted to learn that Taroko is sacredly protected by Taiwan’s environmental protection movement. Sure to be a splendid way to immerse yourself into nature, the park is home to several hiking trails, a wide range of wildlife many of which are unique to the region and relaxed county of Hualien just minutes away.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Pearly Whites: Luxury toothpastes to enhance your smile

According to science, smiling has the ability to make you appear younger than your peers, and if that wasn’t enough to turn your frown upside down, there are also studies that show evidence of a healthy grin inducing more pleasure to the brain than a bar of chocolate (sorry, chocolate!). Indeed, smiling appears to offer a handful of benefits to improve your social life, and most importantly your self-esteem and well-being.

Naturally, in order for one to want to show off their smile they would need to boast a healthy set of pearly whites. However, dental care seems to be one of the most dull and tedious aspects of grooming, not to mention the flavours offered lack variety.

Fortunately, for your teeth, luxury brands are starting to venture into oral-care and are beginning to offer new and exciting flavours, as well as healthcare benefits that your typical drugstore brand often neglects. Below are our top picks for luxury toothpastes..

Aēsop

Toothpaste Dentifrice

The beloved Australian skincare brand Aēsop has extended its products to luxury toothpastes, offering a tube free of fluoride, and gum-soothing ingredients such as sea buckthorn, while hints of cardamom and Japanese wasabi help maintain a fresh breath for longer hours.

Buly 1803

Opiat Dentaire Toothpaste, 75ml – Apple of Montauban

Coming courtesy of Buly 1803, the French formula is not only packaged in an eye-catching tube but also bestows a hint of apple-esque freshness to your daily dental care routine. Said to reduce gum disease with the help of its special ingredient – the thermal water of Castera – the toothpaste is a clear winner for those wanting to keep their mouth refreshed and protected.

Lebon

Dentifrice Toothpaste – Le White

If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to your morning routine, French brand Lebon is a worthy contender. Inside it’s sophisticated bottle lies natural and fluoride free whitening toothpaste made with organic green tea and aleo vera, the formula is said to help prevent bacterial growth, plaque formation and cavities. With 9 flavors being offered it’ll be difficult to choose just one.

Swiss Smile

Gold Toothpaste – d’Or

Concluding our list is Swiss company Swiss Smile, which has an impressive forty-year resume in the luxury dental care game. Luxurious indeed, the brand offers 23.75 gold toothpaste and toothbrushes helping your smile fight off demineralisation. Truly, a million dollar smile in the making.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Soap Town: Five luxury body soaps that are totally worth the splurge

Millennials are blamed for a number of things and the diminishing sales of body soaps is one of them. Indeed, according to US-based consumer research company Mintel, consumers who still buy body soaps apparently have one thing in common: they are all over 60!

Little wonder then, that such big-name brands as Hermès and Chanel are trying to woo millennials with a range of super-premium, luxury body soaps that are far from the run-of-the-mill bars that you can find in any departmental store. Exclusive, expensive and environmentally-friendly, these New Age body soaps are nothing less than luxury in a wrapper.

Let’s check out our top five luxury body soaps that have most caught out fancy.

L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap

Formulated with a vegetable base and enriched with nourishing shea butter – the self-same product that has been used for centuries by women in Sub-Saharan Africa to protect their skins – the soap is bestowed with astonishing hydrating powers that can last for up to 24 hours.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Bath Bar

A moisturising bath bar with rosemary and peppermint leaf powders, it gently exfoliates the skin while causing a slightly tingly sensation, thanks to the minty formula. The organic rosemary, meanwhile, adds an invigorating aroma of floral goodness.

Chanel Coco Bath Soap

A brand known for its luxury lifestyle offerings, it’s no wonder that Chanel’s Coco body soap is bestowed with the same posh feeling. While buyers admit it’s a splurge, they can’t help but be drawn to it, thanks to its decadent scent and soothing texture. Added bonus? It’s so gentle that it works wonders on sensitive skin as well.

Caswell-Massey Goat’s Milk & Honey Soap

There’s a reason why goat’s milk soaps are considered the best body soaps for all types of skin. Not only is its lactic acid component soothing on dry skin, it also equally effective on normal skin. However, the best part is that goat milk can easily penetrate the surface layer of the skin and quickly provide our epidermal tissues with the nourishment they need.

Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Treatment Bar

What sets apart this body soap from others is its hero ingredient, the 100% pure Umbrian clay, which Fresh’s proprietary ingredient found solely in the Italian town of Nocera Umbra. Its high mineral content is said to neutralise the skin’s acidity, extract toxins and purify the complexion.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Calming Crystals: The latest wellness trend of crystal facials

It wasn’t even two weeks ago when we reported about the sudden craze for jade combs to induce calming massages, that the new trend of crystal facials began to pop up all over our Instagram feeds.

Indeed the latest crystal trend brings the act of self-care with the cute clear-cut rocks to your face, rather than on your scalp… just when you thought you finally had your jade roller finally figured out. However, unlike the 100 combing strokes needed for the ultimate jade combing experience, the do-it-yourself crystal facial technique requires very little physical work, but requires participants to lie perfectly still.

So, how does putting pretty pebbles on your face improve your health? Well, it’s been said that crystal facials help with skincare, making your pores brighter, tighter and clearer. Not to be forgotten is the claim that they also improve emotional well-being by bringing our bodies and face in sync with their vibrating frequencies. Who could have thought a stone to the face could relieve tension?

Crystals allegedly have the power to absorb heat and release it, so placing it on crucial sensory points of the face result in energy being diverted to different regions. Diagrams can be found online instructing interested parties on how to set up the right formation to ensure the stones can do their magic… after that you just need to lie back and relax.

Seeking to target different concerns, the crystals can be aligned in ways to target anti-ageing, shiner skin, puffiness reduction and so on. Rose quartz, for example, is used to boost “self-love”, moonstone to smoothen out your skin and aquamarine stone to induce a youthful glow.

But while Instagrammers seem to be all but convinced about the curative properties of crystals, perhaps unsurprisingly, the scientific community has not been so forthcoming with their seal of approval. However, despite the lack of evidence backing the crystal-converts, the practice does seem to have a few positives, with the obvious calming-down effect of lying still being right on top of that list. To add to that, it does not lead to any packaging waste or environmental woes. It is also far less messy and labourious than a lot of other therapies. In fact, if you are looking for a short and sweet session to find your inner peace, the answer lies just a stone’s throw away.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Comb All Ye Faithful: The wellness benefits of jade combs

In that arcane corner of the Internet known only as the blogosphere, a new grooming phenomenon has begun to gain traction. If you are among those who don’t frequent such cyber-nooks and one of the dwindling number as yet unsubscribed to Instagram, the fad for US$300-a-piece jade combs may have, as yet, passed you by. The question is – are you missing out on a hair and scalp care revolution or have you just body-swerved boosting the coffers of some follically-minded fraudster to the tune of HK$2,400?

Known for their love of self-care, it should come as little surprise that millennials have been beguiled by the hype surrounding jade combs. Ubiquitously promoted as delivering a calming massage while ensuring enhanced blood circulation across the whole of the scalp region, such combs are said to nurture faster and more sustained hair growth. Clearly wanting to manage expectations a little – at least long enough to ensure the “return by” date has passed – the companies behind the combs have been keen to emphasise that it will take at least three months before any benefits become apparent.

In these enlightened times, of course, hair care is no longer just about beauty – it’s also about wellness (a phenomenon not known to exist prior to 1998). So, if your conventional comb merely detangles your hair, without providing a transformation of shamanic proportions, are you truly missing out? Actually, you might be.

The notion of combing as a therapeutic experience isn’t merely a latter-day affectation of Generation Me. In fact, its roots stretch back almost 1,500 years to the time of classical China’s Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD). Back then, it was practiced as an integral part of Tui Na, a form of traditional healing massage. With the head seen as the nexus of every bodily meridian, ritual combing was advocated as a means of ensuring the free flow of qi (life energy).

Tui Na adepts recommend that adherents should run their combs through their tresses at least 100 times before retiring for the night, a practice said to ensure sounder sleep, while also offering several more bouffant benefits. Fast forward a millennium and a half and today’s cyber-clinicians are making very similar promises.

So, is it an uncanny rediscovery of a lost tonsorial tonic or the redeploying of a venerable scalp-related scam on a whole new generation of credulous coiffeur-obsessives for whom bald facts remain forever elusive? Well, we’re happy to testify that a good scalp massage is always relaxing, but as to the restorative properties of jade combs, well, we’ll have to get back to you on that one. In about three months’ time.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Time to Tidy Up: The health benefits of tidying up and 3 tips to get it done

Marie Kondo, Japan’s leading lady for all things organisation-related, hit our small screens less than four weeks ago with her Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, and already she has caused a shift in millions of viewers with respect to cleaning their own homes and airing out their minds.

Kondo’s approach to organisation is based on the principle of joy and how it should be instrumental in our tidying-up process, leaving it up to individuals to evaluate the exact worth of their belongings and their emotional value. Simply put, if a belonging sparks joy, keep it. If it doesn’t, toss it.

With reports from 2016 showing an increase of anxiety disorders now affecting over 275 million people worldwide, or approximately 2.5-6.5 percent of each country’s population, it’s important to find a solution. So, how can tidying up decrease anxiety?

It’s simple really. By decluttering, we reduce the amount of distractions in our day-to-day lives, allowing us to focus on what really needs to be done. Decision-making skills can also become impaired when there is too much going on, and so, by literally cleaning out our closets, we can develop healthier habits and cognitive control.

With the Year of the Pig just two weeks away, Chinese tradition dictates that a clean house is critical for starting the new lunar year with your best foot forward, so here are three top tips to ensure that you hit all your spring cleaning targets before Chinese New Year arrives.

Start with your clothes

Arguably, we have more clothing than anything else in our homes, so the best place to start your mission of decluttering is to empty out your closet, wardrobe,and anywhere else your garments may be kept. It might sound like a hefty task to clear everything – yes everything – out, but set aside a half hour each day to tackle them in sections and you’ll be done before you know it.

Don’t be afraid to toss the things that are worn and tired, no one needs a pair of three-year-old socks. Furthermore, if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in over a year, why not consider donating it? Lastly, keep track of the seasonality of your clothes, keeping your summer wear towards the back until temperatures warm up again.

Tidying up in segments rather than the whole room

The thought of tidying up your entire kitchen, wardrobe or bathroom may seem like an enormous task. Instead, have a plan of attack that sees you approach any clean-up in segments. In the kitchen, for example, sort out your cutlery first, then your spices and condiments, and finally your pots and pans. Keep an eye out for items that need to be tossed while also cataloging those that you use with regular frequency and ensuring they’re within easy reach.

Tidying because YOU want to

Tidying up needs to be a decision of your own, not an attempt to please others. Yes, shared spaces call for mutual respect of that space, but when it comes to your stuff, no one can tell you want sparks joy in you and what does not. The process of decluttering should be a day (or two) spent alone to search within your drawers and self.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Camper Smarkin: Troubleshoot your skin with this new skincare gadget

Dry skin, rashes, wrinkles – these are just some of the dermatological woes that the all-new Comper Smarkin skincare gadget claims to be able to combat. Unveiled at the recent 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – an annual showcase of the latest high-tech developments – this smart device is packed to the brim with innovative technologies, all meant to help you troubleshoot your skin.

The brainchild of Comper, the Silicon Valley-based healthcare artificial intelligence start-up, the compact, hand-held Comper Smarkin seems to not only be a skin problem diagnoser but actually a one-stop cure-all for any dreaded dermis-related conditions as well, be it the tolls of ageing or the woes of hormone-driven pimples. So how does it work? According to the PR materials, it’s a combination of RF, MASS, EMS and LED. Confused? Don’t worry. Basically, these acronyms all stand for various types of electronic therapies that each target specific skincare problems.

First, there’s RF (Radio Frequency), which is aimed at skin tightening through in-built electrodes that produce an electromagnetic field that penetrates the skin. In layman’s terms, it creates a heating effect that sooths your subdermal layer. Then there’s MASS (Micro Vibration Therapy), the use of micro vibrations to promote blood circulation and to amplify the benefits of any applied creams or serums.

To combat the merest sign of ageing, there’s EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation), which sees the afore-mentioned electrodes also emit micro currents of three different intensities, all to gently coax muscles into a more toned shape. Finally, the Comper Smarkin utilises LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology to combat breakouts and smoothen any fine lines and wrinkles.

Available in red and light or dark grey, the Comper Smarkin measures only 13.7cm in length (LED screen not withstanding) and is made from medical-grade silicon rubber. With its companion Comper Health App, users can apparently directly access any readings taken and any issues diagnosed so they can partake in the relevant treatment. This skincare gadget, which completed a very successful crowdfunding campaign last year, is now in the production phase, and you can pre-order your own here for US$299.

Are DIY laser hair removal kits as convenient as they claim?

The phenomenon of ‘laser hair removal’ seems to have integrated so successfully into the beauty industry that it may be all too easy to forget the nightmares of yore rooted quite literally in dark follicles.

Indeed, laser hair removal has been commercially available to the public for around 24 years, a cosmetic practice known to treat unwanted hair by exposing it to intense light with a single frequency. The yearning for smooth, hairless legs, underarms, and perhaps places a little more private have been subtly addressed by clinicians for the over two decades.

However, as with any popular cosmetics procedure, the wait time of an appointment can be cause for those with an already packed schedule to be dismayed. Finding the time between the boardroom, social gatherings and time with the family, a trip to the clinic to get zapped with beams of light isn’t exactly the ideal Saturday morning bout.

Hearing the overloaded-overworked consumers are more than a dozen companies, who are now marketing at-home devices for a mere HK$600 (the usual price of one treatment at a registered clinic) to an impressive HK$6,000. However, it is important to examine what these DIY kits do and at what cost to your body.

While most home hair-removal devices may be safe, they pose a risk when placed in the wrong hands. Consumers have been known to skip the instruction manual more than once, often ignoring the recommended time periods between treatments or knowing which setting is right for their skin and hair type. In fact, those with medium dark to dark brown and black hair are often not the right candidates for laser treatment, and will require electrolysis instead.

Perhaps the convenience of waving goodbye to stubby prickles on your own time may be as attractive as the allure of smooth legs, but the possible risk of burning and / or permanently scaring your body (especially while trying to beautify it) is well worth considering. In an age where DIY is certainly on the rise, sometimes its important to ground ourselves and remember some things still do require appointments.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

HIIT: HIT or Myth? Does High-Intensity Interval Training reduce your body fat or just your bank balance?

Taking a surreptitious peek at your phone and wondering just how to cram your to-do list into the little that’s left of today? You won’t be the only one. Back in 2015, a study of the work-life balance in 71 cities around the world showed that Hongkongers spent the most time in the office.

While a 40-hour working week was more or less the average in most developed nations, the wage slaves of the SAR routinely turned in 50.1 hours – a whopping 25.25 percent more. In a work culture where office dwell time seems more prized than efficiency or effectiveness, it’s a statistic unlikely to decline anytime soon.

With ostentatious exercise regimes right up there with nocturnal office occupancy as two of the Fragrant Harbour’s Big Three Most Lauded Lifestyle Affectations (with conspicuous charitable giving completing the collection), it is, of course, compulsory to fit in a full-on fitness programme alongside your dozen daily hours of desk duty. All of this may explain just why High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is currently so in vogue. Essentially a programme of repeated sessions of relatively brief, intermittent exercise, HIIT requires participants to gradually build up the may last anything from a few seconds to several minutes, with breaks punctuating each iteration. With sessions typically focusing on cycling, running, jumping or squats, each activity is undertaken three times a week as part of a two- to six-week cycle.

With more than 20 Hong Kong exercise centres now offering it as a workout option, there is no doubt that HIIT is something of a hit locally. As to its effectiveness, well, for every study dubbing it the Best Thing Ever To Happen to Unfit Folk, there’s at least one that bills it as the Next Best Thing at Parting Overweight Over-Earners From Their Income With No Real Discernible Benefit.

That’s not to say that HIIT is the latest missive from Charlatan Central, aimed squarely at the gallantly gullible and those hoping that coughing up cash will mean bidding farewell to thick thighs without all the hassle of cutting back on calories. It’s certainly to be recommended above valiantly doing nothing on a long-term basis, while hoping for the best, but it’s still worth evaluating for yourself, independently monitoring your progress and taking little on trust from those who may be more interested in having a healthy bank balance than having a healthy client base.

Text: Bailey Atkinson