Japanese Children's True Feelings: "Scared to Talk." 'M.O.F.U.' (Mind Opening Forum for Us), a Place to Nurture Hearts Through Art and Hip Hop, Launches Crowdfunding to Build a Sustainable Mental Wellness Model!

This press release is a dream shared by businesses who resonate with the April Dream project, aiming to make April 1st a day overflowing with dreams, which they hope to realize in the future.

Non-Profit Organization for Mental Health Environment Improvement Project (MHEC)

Scene from an art therapy experience

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

Background: "Fear and Embarrassment 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 became clear was that many children responded with "I'm scared to talk, and it's embarrassing." For children who find it difficult to express emotions in words, talking to parents or teachers, or traditional verbal counseling, remains a high hurdle, and many worries are held "unspoken."

Impact of the 2025 Event: "An Experience of Wellness" That Overturned Traditional Perceptions

In June 2025, the trial M.O.F.U. wellness event saw a large number of participants, significantly exceeding capacity. As a result of providing opportunities to "naturally feel and experience mental well-being" through art, music, movement, Hip Hop, and heartfulness, numerous feedbacks were received that overturned the traditional image of mental health as "scary and negative."

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