Mental health in Hong Kong: how physical activity can improve your overall well-being
- Move It for Mental Health is a campaign to encourage Hongkongers to increase their fitness activity in February to help their mental health
- Research shows exercise contributes to improved psychological well-being
Olympian Yvette Kong Man-yi knows how important her physical health is to her mental well-being. The swimmer represented Hong Kong at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and says her activity level has a direct effect on her mental health.
“The more people train up their physical awareness, the more control they have of their mental health, and subsequently [their] quality of life,” says the 26-year-old, who has spoken out in the past about her battle with depression.
Kong is now championing the Move It for Mental Health initiative, a month-long campaign to encourage people to up their physical activity to improve their mental well-being. Running until February 17, the campaign led by Mind Hong Kong encourages people to pledge an amount of exercise they will complete over the month to help improve their mental health.
Kong says exercise improves her overall well-being as it is a way to reset and quiet her mind. “Other mind-body techniques I frequently use are meditation and stretching to keep me grounded and in tune with my overall well-being,” says Kong, who is a Mind Hong Kong board member.
Other elite athletes, such as Australian aerial skier and Olympic gold medallist, Alisa Camplin, are also involved in Move It for Mental Health.