Introduction to the Meaningful Living Group 2013 Positive Mental Health through Meaning © Paul T. P. Wong.

Introduction to the Meaningful Living Group 2013

Positive Mental Health through Meaning

© Paul T. P. Wong

An Overview•Who we are & our history

•Our mission and vision

•Our organization

•Our activities

•Our budget

•Our plan for 2013

•Our strategy to meet the mental health crisis

•Why we need your partnership & support

Welcome

• You are not here by chance.

• You may be looking for something.

• You may be simply prompted by curiosity.

• You may feel guided by an invisible hand.

•Whatever the reason, we would love to have you as part of our positive mental health movement.

Who We Are

• This Meetup group is part of a non-profit organization called the International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM), founded by Dr. Paul Wong (www.meaning.ca).

•Dr. Paul Wong is a Registered Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Lilian Wong is a psychotherapist, and Jessica Nee is their assistant.

Our History

• INPM was founded by Dr. Paul Wong in 1989.

•The Meaningful Living Group (M4L) was started in May, 2011 (www.inpm.org).

•We have completed two cycles of M4L Lessons (14 lessons each cycle).

Our Mission and Vision

•The mission of INPM is to advance meaning-centered research, therapy and education

•The mission of M4L is to educate the general public about the science and art of meaningful living.

•The vision of M4L is to promote positive mental health to prevent/reduce mental illness and promote well-being for self and society.

Organization of M4L

•Organizers: Paul & Lilian Wong, Jessica Nee

•Executive Committee: Cindia Chau-Boon, Charles Ng, Steve Shaw, Guylaine Hudon, & Joseph Pau

•Assistant Facilitators: Steve Shaw, Simone Smith, Jessica Nee, Amelia Pau

Activities Related to M4L•The Meaningful Living Project Facebook Page

(currently over 2,700 members & reaches over 80,000 per week): http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meaningful-Living-Project/162677933792689

•Meaningful Living Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PersonalMeaning

• INPM.org, meaning.ca, & Meaningfulliving.org

• INPM Positive Living Newsletter (www.meaning.ca)

Budget for M4L

• It costs approximately $5000 per cycle (14 Meetups) to maintain current level of activities.

•Cost includes: refreshments, printing, websites, assistantship, marketing

•Revenue: donations & sponsorship (you and your corporation can support this worthy cause)

Tentative Plans for This Year

•Organic interest groups

•One community project for the entire group

•Share expertise & help each other

•Facilitate the development of meaningful relationships

•Intensive two-day workshop on meaning therapy for facilitators

Mental Health Crisis in College Kids

Toronto District School Board Mental Health Survey: Grades 9-12

Canadian Mental Health

12% Anxiety Disorder 10% Symptoms of Substance Dependence 8% Major Depression

1 of 5 Suffer from Mental Illness4 of 5 Affected Indirectly

The Missing Link in Mental Heath Care

Medicine cannot solve the meaning crisis.

There is no magic bullet to cure all ills & make you well.

Happiness is not the answer.

The Meaning Hypothesis

Self-transcendence is the key to meaning.

Life has ultimate & intrinsic value.

Your life has intrinsic meaning & value.

M4L depends on synergy.

Personal Transformation through Meaning

The meaning advantage: It makes suffering more bearable.

Transformation through Meaning

What You Can Do To Help

•Become a member of INPM

• Invite others to join M4L

•Get actively engaged in M4L

•Do all the required exercises

•Help each other to apply the skills

•You can volunteer as graphic artist, webmaster, fundraising, helping others