June 19 event looks to cultivate compassion and love for self and others as a way to promote, normalize and de-stigmatize mental health – an issue all the more urgent amid COVID-19
Bangkok, 16 June 2021 – The ‘Compassion Summit’ Online Symposium will explore themes of building resilience and finding compassion for self and others in a one-day event on June 19.
The symposium is designed to encourage conversation around mental health and building resilience through self-care and empathy as participants progress through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic together.
The event is part of the second phase of #UnknownTogether, a 10-week digital campaign developed by Love Frankie, the United Nations in Thailand, and Knowing Mind, and supported by Facebook. Joining the online symposium is the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, to explore the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, providing tools and resources for holistic self-care, as well as empowering Thai people to help the communities around them.
#UnknownTogether was launched as a creative social media campaign at the outset of the pandemic in early 2020, providing Thai society carefully curated content and information. It has helped promote dialogue on a national level to raise awareness of how the pandemic has adversely impacted mental health while providing information and resources to promote well-being, resilience and empathy.
In doing so, the campaign contributes to continuously normalizing, educating and de-stigmatizing mental health in order to increase understanding.
The campaign also amplifies messages and support services from credible partners by sharing knowledge, practical tools and resources.
The Compassion Summit symposium will feature panel discussions and moderated talks, as well as workshops and group activities by some of the brightest minds in the field in Thailand to help our Thai community discover compassion for themselves, their families and communities. Key speakers and headliners for the event include:
- “Radical Self Compassion” and “Self-reflection Through Art & Movement” by Dujdao Vadhanapakorn, Psychotherapist, Empathetic Communication Specialist, and founder of Empathy Sauce
- “Cultivating Compassion Through Free Writing” by Anusorn Tipayanon, Writer and two-time S.E.A. Write Award winner, and Sompop Jamchan, Counseling Psychologist, Founder of Knowing Mind
- “Nature Path skincare” by Pearypie, Makeup Artist, Beauty Influencer, Fashion Icon
- “Strength through song” by Lukpeach, Musical artist
- “Self-soothing Sound Bath” by Note Panayanggool (Notep), Artist, Musician and Conservationist, and Jaan Healing, Sound and Intuitive Energy Healer
Matt Love, Co-Founder & Director at Love Frankie said, “The past few weeks have made it apparent that the pandemic is as turbulent as ever and emotions are at an all-time high. As we move to wrap up the second season of #UnknownTogether, we are proposing a one-day symposium to support the #UnknownTogether community.
“We acknowledge that inner work and self-care is hard work and we intend to offer our support so that no one feels alone in this journey,” Matt added.
Gita Sabharwal, the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand said that “Unknown Together is part of UN Thailand’s Response to COVID-19 and it has been an excellent experience to see so many partners coming together to be part of this campaign. We need a whole-of-society approach to promote, protect and care for mental health. Our next step is to continue to support COVID-19 recovery, including through enabling quality mental health resources and services. I am pleased that a symposium in partnership with Thai Health Promotion Foundation will wrap up the Unknown Together campaign. The materials from this campaign will remain available on Facebook as a resource accessible to everyone to learn about mental health.”
Michael Bäk, Head of Public Policy for Facebook Thailand, said, “The feeling of connection and belonging is fundamental to our lives as human beings, and at no time has this been more critical than during the COVID19 pandemic. Facebook and Instagram bring people together and connect them with resources everyday, helping everyone to learn and grow. #UnknownTogether illustrates the commitment we have to the safety and wellbeing of our Thai community and we are grateful to the stellar speakers and resource people through both seasons of #UnknownTogether who have helped normalize and de-stigmatize mental health. I believe these resources can help us emerge from COVID19 stronger and more resilient than ever.”
Participants can join the virtual event through an all-in-one portal hopin.com/events/compassionsummit where they can register, download content, and engage with leading experts around the most pressing mental health issues.
For more information and pre-registration please go to hopin.com/events/compassionsummit
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Jidapa Parry, TQPR (Thailand) Co., Ltd. | mint@tqpr.com | 02-260-5820 ext. 113