Walking through darkness with mood disorder patients

Mr Michael Chan Wai-man suffered from brain cancer when he was small, which caused deafness in his right ear and poor vision in his right eye. His language and facial development were also affected. “Some classmates alienated me because my appearance was not the same as other people after my illness." However, physical imperfections were never an excuse for him. He actively cares for mental and mood disorder patients who are also misunderstood by the community at large, and encourages them to walk out from darkness with him.

After enrolling in university, Michael noticed that many young people in society and even on campus are plagued by mental or mood disorder problems. Patients are often misunderstood by the community, and it is difficult for them to talk to others or ask for help. With similar life experience, Michael truly understands the feelings of being discriminated. Therefore, he and his classmates with the same belief to help people, set up "Companion HK" in early 2020 to provide appropriate assistance to patients with mental illnesses or mood disorders, as well as increasing the awareness of mental health across the community.

"Companion HK" encourages people with mental illnesses or mood disorders to share their personal experience and feelings. Patients can express their suppressed emotions while the public can understand their situations and needs. Short videos are also created and made available on social media to reduce social stigma. “The public’s impression of mental or mood disorder patients comes from movies and TV dramas. We encourage these patients to come out bravely, and hope that the public will understand them more and become more caring."

Looking forward, Michael hopes to organize more sharing sessions to strengthen the connection and support among patients with mental illnesses or mood disorders, allowing them to communicate with the others directly. “Verbal encouragement is powerful and should not be overlooked.”

Humanity is to strive for our best with unwavering determination, to do our part and help those in need.