Zurich Hong Kong launches Chill Lab – a three-year, youth-oriented mental health community program

Supported by Z Zurich Foundation, the collaboration with The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (“MHAHK”) aims to promote youth mental wellbeing and destigmatize mental health sufferers in Hong Kong

• Zurich Hong Kong, Z Zurich Foundation, a charitable foundation funded by various members of the Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich), and The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (MHAHK) join hand to drive a systemic change in improving youth mental wellbeing through various prevention and promotion programs in schools, the youth hub and community.
• The launch of Chill Lab is particularly significant as there is currently an urgent need for mental health services for youth in Hong Kong. According to a recent survey, more than half of the interviewed youth displayed emotional symptoms of depression and nearly half experienced high levels of stress.
• Innovative tools, campaign and solutions are essential in raising awareness about mental wellbeing of the youngster. As part of our efforts, we have launched the first local experiential youth hub that utilizes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
• The program is expected to reach 58% of Hong Kong secondary schools, positively impacting more than 190,000 people over three years.

Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) ("Zurich Hong Kong") has always been dedicated in youth empowerment and driving positive impact on mental wellbeing in Hong Kong. Zurich Hong Kong has been the title sponsor of the interschool 3x3 basketball competition for three years in a row. Back in 2021, we organized the “Think Good, Talk Good” community campaign to raise public awareness on mental wellbeing.

This year, Zurich Hong Kong is further strengthening its commitment in this area through a signature collaboration between Z Zurich Foundation and The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (“MHAHK”) which is a well-established non-government organization promoting mental health education and providing community rehabilitation services in the city for nearly 70 years.

The mental health situation among Hong Kong’s youths requires immediate attention. According to the "Youth Mental Well-being Survey 2023" conducted by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, out of the 230 respondents aged between 11 and 29 (84.4% of whom were secondary school students), over 75% exhibited mild or higher levels of anxiety, including more than 25% experiencing moderate or severe levels of anxiety.

The survey findings also revealed that approximately 17% of the respondents were reluctant to seek help from others when they experienced emotional distress. Among those who sought assistance, classmates, and friends (38.2%) and family members (31.7%) were the main targets. The above findings highlighted the importance of promoting youth mental wellbeing, as well as the crucial role that friends and family members can play in providing support.

With the high prevalence of mental health challenges, although the Hong Kong government has implemented ongoing initiatives to increase general awareness around mental health, there is a need for more resources that are specifically targeted toward youth mental health. This is a gap that the collaboration hopes to address with the launch of Chill Lab, a comprehensive prevention and promotion program that aims to drive a systemic change in Hong Kong’s approach to youth mental wellbeing.

Eric Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong), said, “At Zurich Hong Kong, our commitment to the Hong Kong community through various initiatives and innovative campaigns is driven by our brand purpose to create a brighter future. We share a common vision with Z Zurich Foundation and MHAHK to improve youth mental wellbeing in Hong Kong. With the generous support of Z Zurich Foundation, we are honored to establish a long-term collaboration with MHAHK, which has extensive expertise and hands-on experience in mental health programs. Today marks the start of a meaningful program, and we are fully committed to building a brighter future for the mental wellbeing of Hong Kong's youth.”

Gregory Renand, Head of the Z Zurich Foundation, added, “At the Z Zurich Foundation, we envision a world where young people have the tools and resources they need to improve their mental wellbeing. Our focus is on prevention, promotion, and making a positive, transformative change on young people. Our participation goes beyond financial contributions as we strive to make mental health support more accessible to students throughout the city. We strongly believe that the joint efforts of all partners, schools and community can help build a supportive ecosystem of teachers and parents, reduce stigma, and increase awareness about youth mental wellbeing.”

Chill Lab adopts a three-dimensional approach to engaging with and influencing youth in Hong Kong through collaboration with schools, the youth hub and community. In its initial phase, our aim is to raise their awareness and understanding of mental health through the development of promotion kits and creative programs on anti-stigmatization. In the next phase, we will organize a series of activities in the youth hub, including the AR/VR experiential games, to transform the attitudes and behaviors within the community. In the final phase, we hope to build the capacity of young people to become youth ambassadors.

Youth-oriented, dialogue-focused, innovative programs

Chill Lab aims to create a nurturing ecosystem of caregivers and teachers, and to integrate mental wellbeing education and early prevention into Hong Kong's school system. To provide engaging and immersive educational experiences, the project leverages Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies. AR helps visualize how different emotions can be triggered, while the role-playing VR simulation familiarizes youth with the causes and coping for mental health challenges, teaching tactics for better stress management and emotional resilience. The trial versions of both AR and VR games have already been launched, and they will be officially available for secondary school students starting this September.

We prioritize keen engagement with our beneficiaries and adopt a dialogue-driven approach. To better reach out to youth, we utilize social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. In addition, we create a focus group comprised of students to gather feedback on the programs and implement a pilot scheme to collect first-hand user feedback on the usage of school materials. To enhance the program content, we regularly consult with professional bodies and key stakeholders, including universities, school associations, government parties, and community associations.

A series of activities to increase awareness and de-stigmatize

The ‘We Can – Youth Pioneer’ school program creates direct dialogue opportunities with students, empowering them to initiate mental wellbeing projects and strengthening their mental health literacy. Meanwhile, creative programs, such as music, dance, and sports, will also be launched to anti-stigmatize and promote inclusion.

In addition to school initiatives, the collaboration involves the launch of Hong Kong's first experimental youth mental wellness gaming hub, featuring Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies. The hub spans over 3,000 sq.ft. and provides a space for youngsters to gather and drive positive impact. Managed by MHAHK, the youth hub includes three zones: an AR Experiential Zone, a VR Simulation Zone, and a Human Library Reflection Zone. In the Human Library Reflection Zone, peer support workers from MHAHK will share their personal recovery journeys, providing valuable insights and support for youth seeking to improve their mental wellbeing.

The initiatives are expected to have a positive impact on a significant portion of Hong Kong's secondary schools, specifically 58%, which equates to approximately 190,000 people over three years.

Zurich Hong Kong staff shows dedicated support

Zurich volunteers are actively engaged in the program, supporting mental wellbeing initiatives through various activities. These included a lunch and learn session held on June 14 to equip staff with basic knowledge of mental wellbeing, balcony renovation activities for the youth hub on June 28 and July 1, and a "One Day at Zurich" student workshop on July 14 to introduce the insurance industry to students and broaden their horizons. The program also plans to involve more staff in future initiatives, such as a mentorship program and student activities, to support mental wellbeing. The enthusiastic support of our staff is certain to contribute to the success of the program.

Stephen Wong, Assistant Director (Service), MHAHK, said, “Echoing our vision of ‘Mental Health for All’, we have been launching school-based campaigns, education programs and mental health first aid program to educate young people and enhance their mental well-being for many years. This collaboration with Z Zurich Foundation and Zurich Hong Kong will enable us to leverage experiential technology and the power of community to change attitudes and behaviors, empowering us with greater capacity to improve the mental health challenges faced by Hong Kong's youth.”

The program will kick off with a Mental Health Week, scheduled for August 1-5, 2023. As part of the week's activities, students from different schools will have access to a range of interactive and immersive resources around mental health through AR and VR experiential activities.

Chill Lab kick-off ceremony event photos

Mr. Eric Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Hong Kong (middle), Mr. Ching Chi Kong, Director at MHAHK (left) and Mr. Stephen Wong, Assistant Director (Service) at MHAHK (right) introduced the collaboration and shared their vision for enhancing youth mental health awareness.

Mr. Eric Hui (above photo) and Mr. Stephen Wong (below photo) tried the AR experimental game.

Mr. Eric Hui (right) and Mr. Stephen Wong (left) aimed to understand the difficulties that the younger generation is facing through the VR experience.

Mr. Eric Hui, Mr. Stephen Wong and other guests attended the kick-off ceremony.