Psynet:
Essay competition deadline extended to March 29
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The competition forms part of PSG's three-year Mental Health Promotion Campaign - "Balances and Wisdom 2004-2007". Officers and civilians are urged to join the competition to share their personal experiences of their "vital engagements".
Vital engagement refers to the process that an individual devotes himself/herself, with genuine passion, in a particular activity in which he/she finds interesting and meaningful. The positive experiences and enjoyment obtained from the activity also motivate the individual to continue the engagement in that activity. It is suggested that vital engagement contributes to an individual's overall well being - happiness and a sense that life has meaning, and therefore helping one to achieve a better work-life balance. Vital engagement is also a long-term commitment instead of just a fleeting event, and the sustained engagement fosters growth and advancement in that individual. There are many different forms of engagement, such as sports activity, hobby, learning, aesthetic appreciation, and volunteer service work, etc.
The aim of the essay competition is to encourage colleagues to pursue a balanced life through vital engagement and highlight good practices in the Force. The essays will be judged against the following criteria:
* introducing experiences in vitally engaging in an activity (feelings, difficulties, and insights, etc.),
* highlighting the gains (physically or psychologically), personal growth (e.g. being more mature and having wider exposure) or the positive changes in life after pursuing that particular activity,
* providing suggestions or tips to other colleagues who want to start a vital engagement,
* be well written in terms of structure and be entertaining and interesting, and
* not exceeding 800 words for English and 1,200 for Chinese, including punctuation.
Dr. Samuel Ho, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong, who has rich experiences in the study of positive psychology, and Mr Eddie Li, Senior Police Clinical Psychologist, will be the judges of the competition.
A book coupon of $300 and a certificate will be awarded to each of the five best essay writers. Their essays will be published in the "Psynet" column in Offbeat.
Entries can be sent to PSG through mail (5/F 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay) or PEN at psg-gr@police.gov.hk. Envelopes or e-mails should be marked with "Essay Competition".
Owing to overwhelming response to its essay competition on "My Vital Engagement", Psychological Services Group (PSG) has extended the deadline for entries to March 29.
Meanwhile, PSG will conduct its second seminar next month under the theme of "Balances and Wisdom", with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Commission of Youth, Dr Philemon Choi Yuen-wan speaking on the subject of "Balance of the Soul".
The seminar will be held in the Auditorium, 8/F, Arsenal House, PHQ, on Saturday, April 9 from 10 am to noon. Enrolment requests should be directed to Mrs Sit at 2866-1992 or PSG by PEN at psg-gr@police.gov.hk.
According to PSG, the concept of "Holistic Health" emphasises harmony and integration of body, emotion and spirituality. At the seminar, Dr Choi is going to share with participants his own experience and wisdom on "spirituality", and explore the following questions:
* What exactly is "spirituality"? How to develop a healthy and fulfilled person?
* How to balance the needs of soul against the bustles in modern living?
* How to make use of "spirituality" to achieve calmness and serenity, especially in the face of adversity and difficulties?