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 meaningcentered 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/TheMeaningful-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
1 of 5 Suffer from Mental Illness
4 of 5 Affected Indirectly
 12% Anxiety Disorder
 10% Symptoms of Substance Dependence
 8% Major Depression
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