Japanese Children's True Feelings: "Afraid to Consult." M.O.F.U., a Place to Nurture Hearts Through Art and Hip Hop, Launches Crowdfunding for a Sustainable Mental Wellness Model!

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Specified Non-profit Corporation Mental Health Environment Improvement Project (MHEC)

Scene from an art therapy experience

Specified Non-profit Corporation Mental Health Environment Improvement Project (Location: Tokyo, hereinafter MHEC) is launching a crowdfunding campaign (https://syncable.biz/campaign/9487) with the goal of establishing an annual program for "M.O.F.U. (Mind Opening Forum for Us)," a safe space where children can connect their hearts through art, music, movement, Hip Hop, and heartfulness.

## Background: "Fear and Shame of Consulting" Revealed in a Survey of 200 Children
From 2023 to 2024, MHEC conducted a mental health awareness survey targeting 200 elementary school students from 4th to 6th grade. What was revealed was that many children responded with "It's scary and embarrassing to consult." For children who find it difficult to express emotions verbally, talking about their feelings to parents or teachers, or traditional verbal counseling, remains a high hurdle, and many worries are "held within without being put into words."

## Response to the 2025 Trial Event: "Experience of Wellness" Overturning Conventional Images
The M.O.F.U. wellness event, held as a trial in June 2025, saw participation from many more people than its capacity. By providing opportunities to "naturally feel and experience mental wellness" through art, music, movement, Hip Hop, and heartfulness, numerous feedbacks were received that overturned the conventional "scary/negative" image associated with mental health.

- Scene from a wellness talk with all participants
- Scene from movement therapy

**[Voices from Participants]**
"It was so much fun." "I felt like my existence was acknowledged." "I felt cherished." "I felt like I could be myself here."

Above all, the fact that many participants said "I want to participate again" became the biggest reason to build a continuous support system rather than ending it as a one-off event.

Furthermore, this initiative was featured not only in Japan but also in media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
A new form of mental support, transcending the boundaries of medicine, mental health, and community, integrating non-traditional, non-verbal approaches and free expressive therapies, was introduced as a noteworthy Japanese initiative called "Creative Community Mental Health." (https://richwoman.co/article/creative-therapies-revolutionise-children-s-mental-health-as-japan-embraces-hip-hop-and-art-b)

Featured by British media.

## M.O.F.U.'s Vision: Supporting Adults and Children as a Single "Unit"
We do not consider only children as the target of care. This is because children are strongly influenced by the psychological state of the adults around them (modeling). In reality, parents and teachers often feel overwhelmed by supporting children, not knowing what to do, and feeling isolated.

MHEC does not clearly separate children as "those who are supported" and adults as "those who support." We recognize that **children, adults, and even the supporters and specialists providing assistance are equally "all beings who deserve care."** Through the M.O.F.U. community, we aim to provide a place where support is accessible, correct knowledge can be obtained, and above all, where everyone can feel "safe to be here."

## Project Goal: From Benevolent Volunteerism to a "Sustainable Mechanism"

M.O.F.U. expert team consisting of psychiatrists, psychosomatic physicians, psychologists, US clinical psychologists, clinical psychologists, and certified public psychologists from Japan and the US.

Currently, M.O.F.U. is supported by a team of experts including doctors, psychologists, clinical psychologists, and certified public psychologists from Japan and the US, as well as community staff, all of whom are working as unpaid volunteers. However, children's mental care should not be a "one-time magic." Through this crowdfunding campaign, we will establish the following system for continuous mental support:

- **① Implementation of Annual Support:** Over a year, we will build and care for the "mental foundation" of children and adults through continuous support, psychological education, and workshops.
- **② Placement of Experts and Support Staff:** To pass on high-quality support to the next generation, we will establish an operational system that allows experts to continue their activities.
- **③ Visualization of Evidence:** We will evaluate and report changes in participants to accelerate social implementation.

Example of M.O.F.U. Annual Wellness Support Program

## Crowdfunding Campaign Overview
**Project Name:** Building a Wellness Model Through Non-Traditional, Non-Verbal Approaches | M.O.F.U. 2026
**Period:** Until April 20, 2026
**Crowdfunding Site:** https://syncable.biz/campaign/9487

## [About Specified Non-profit Corporation Mental Health Environment Improvement Project (MHEC)]
A non-profit organization formed by Japanese and US psychological experts and communities that provide psychological education and support related to mental health, aiming for a society where "everyone can receive mental care in their own way." Through the "M.O.F.U." program devised by the expert team, it proposes a new form of care that integrates non-traditional, non-verbal, expressive therapies with clinical psychology, without relying solely on conventional medical or verbal psychological support. https://syncable.biz/associate/mhec/vision#associate-tabs

## [Contact for this matter]
Specified Non-profit Corporation Mental Health Environment Improvement Project (MHEC)
Contact Person: Yu Shiraki
Email: info@mentalhealthec.org