WHAT IS THE GREEN RIBBBON CAMPAIGN?

OCD & Anxiety Support HK started the Green Ribbon Campaign in Hong Kong on the 10th of October 2015. The aim of the green ribbon campaign is to wear a touch of green or a green ribbon to support individuals and their families affected by mental health conditions. Green is the colour of mental health and represents balance, strength, hope and growth which we wish sufferers to attain. Wearing green reassures sufferers that they are not alone and breaks down stigma associated with mental illness. Mental illness is often invisible and sufferers conceal their struggles in fear of judgement therefore wearing a green ribbon gives their illness a presence.  We hope that this campaign encourages sufferers to start talking about mental illness and reaching out for help. In addition, the green ribbon campaign serves as a reminder to society to treat those affected by mental illness with the same respect, understanding and care as those with physical illnesses.  

TVB VIDEO OF MINAL IN NEWS FIRST YEAR OF GREEN RIBBON 

The Green Ribbon Campaign has had a positive impact on the way mental health is talked about and perceived in many countries and we hope for this to continue in Hong Kong. In the past few years during Green Ribbon distribution in Hong Kong, the Green Ribbon Campaign provoked curiosity and interest from the public. Some people stopped on the streets to ask questions about mental health and  share their stories and others were surprised by the support shown to mental health sufferers. 

'See Change', a mental health charity in Ireland and Millward Brown (2016) conducted a random sample survey on the effectiveness of the Green Ribbon Campaign and found that that it had a positive impact on encouraging discussion about mental health. They found that:

•     71% of those surveyed believe that the green ribbon campaign has encouraged conversation about mental health

•     61% of those surveyed are now having conversations about mental health amongst family and friends since campaign

•     91% of those surveyed acknowledge the importance of talking about mental health 

•     75% of those surveyed are now comfortable about talking about mental health in conversations since campaign