Media

Death is an inevitable part of life. However, due to the death-avoidance culture common in Chinese community, support and resources to those dying, the bereaved and the general public are often lacking. Without adequate support and preparation, facing death issues could be exceedingly painful. In response to the resource gap, The Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries Fund has funded a one-year expressive arts-based programme organised by the Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong.

Launched in 2019, the project has four components: 1) public engagement workshops and seminars that aim to bolster community awareness on end-of-life issues; 2) the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) programme for frontline workers and health and allied health professionals; 3) Research evaluation to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of adopting expressive arts in life-and-death education, and; 4) Documentary that complements the programme’s education and research components.

Expressive Arts refers to the use of multiple art modalities and mediums to express inner thoughts and feelings. Combined with life-and-death education, artistic creations can shed lights on life-and-death issues and topics that are difficult to express verbally. The ultimate aims of this programme are to: 1) enhance knowledge competence and promote aspirations of death preparation and prior planning in local communities; 2) enhance practice competency of professionals in Hong Kong with the Train-the-Trainer programme on the use of expressive arts in life-and-death education, and; 3) attain a better understanding over the effectiveness and feasibility of a group-based expressive arts programme as an alternative to traditional life-and-death education in Hong Kong.

A media briefing will be held on December 30 (Thursday) by the research team from the Centre on Behavioral Health to introduce the innovative expressive arts-based project. The findings of a related study will also be released. Programme facilitators will share their experiences on training and community services.

Details are as below:
Date: December 30, 2021 (Thursday)
Time: 2:30 pm to 4 pm 
Venue: 2/F., 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Language: Cantonese
or Via ZOOM
Topic: BMCPC Press Conference (30 Dec 2021)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://hku.zoom.us/j/91312344668?pwd=N2JmNTgxMldNWHR5RTdWcWFVREN1UT09
Meeting ID: 913 1234 4668
Password: 15158

For more details about the programme, please contact Ms. Amy Choi (Centre on Behavioral Health, HKU; Tel: 2831 5163; email: amychoi@hku.hk) or Dr. Adrian Wan (Centre on Behavioral Health, HKU; Tel: 2831 5578; email: awan@hku.hk).

For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Melanie Wan, Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU; Tel: 2859 2600; email: melwkwan@hku.hk).