Problem statement

October 10 marks World Mental Health Day and this year’s focus is on young people. As part of the Global Shapers Shanghai II Hub, Shepers welcomed this news and firmly believe youth mental health needs more focus and attention in the media and public eye. Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems, 800,000 people die due to suicide every year (one person every 40 seconds); and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. The above are just a few of the scary statistics that shadow this common yet unspoken societal issue. Around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem this year yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the mental health problem itself. Each person's attitude to mental health could change someone’s life.

Hub activities

Global Shapers Shanghai II Hub, together with Hong Kong Hub, Singapore Hub, and Beijing II Hub partnered with Little Creatures Brewing to organize a series of ‘Open Up a Little Dinners’ to raise awareness and provide support for mental health in local communities. While guests get to know each other, mental health speakers/specialists touched base with each table to discuss topics around mental health, coping mechanisms, and shared tools/resources to do a mental check, or to help somebody else. Mental health problems affect people that are close to you and your attitude can affect their life. Our pledge: Support Somebody. Offer somebody close help. Being open to mental health doesn’t have to be awkward and being there for someone can make a huge difference to their life. We’re here to help.

Impact metrics

• The hub aimed to impact 40 people at each event (4 different cities), focusing on quality conversations rather than quantity. Each table had the chance to speak to a specialist for about 45 mins total. The events were attended by 193 people in 4 different cities. Expert shared science-backed information around mental health and raised awareness on the issue at a regional level.


• Great feedback was shared by all event attendees as well as by supporting hubs and partners, with the request to repeat these type of events regularly so as to help more people who might be struggling.


• 
  Surveyed all attendees to fill out Shanghai II Hub's Impact Survey:
  
  
  • 97% of attendees acknowledge they have learned something at the events.
  
  
  • 98% of attendees found the information shared by the experts very useful and applicable to their struggles and will use that knowledge to do something differently after the event.
  
  
  • 97% of attendees acknowledged being better prepared to address, support and handle stressful and anxious situations.
  
  
  • 80% of attendees said they would like to help out with future events on this topic.