Mindful Connect X Musical "Marigold" Hold Mental Health Campaign "Mind ON STAGE"

Conversation with Neuroscientist Dr. Dongseon Jang

The mental health campaign "Mind ON STAGE," held in collaboration with the musical "Marigold," took place successfully at the Bukseoul Dream Forest Art Center on August 30 and 31. This event was a meaningful attempt to combine performing arts with a mental health campaign, delivering the theme of social isolation and emotional recovery to the public.

Mindful Connect is working with experts from various fields, including psychiatry, psychology, cultural arts, nursing, and social welfare, with the goal of suicide prevention and raising awareness of mental health in Korea. In particular, through its mental health brand MINDSOS, the organization is raising public awareness about the dangers of Korea’s high suicide rate and low mental health awareness, and is continuously running campaigns and programs to address these issues.

This "Mind ON STAGE" event was a program planned by MINDSOS, and after the musical performance, it was conducted in an open mic format where audience members could come up on stage and share their own stories. These moments became "courage delivered from the edge of life," providing an opportunity to naturally encounter the importance of mental health in everyday life.

This stage was especially meaningful as it achieved a harmony of artistic inspiration and social messaging through collaboration with Theater Company Biyu. The story told by the musical "Marigold" reflected the pain and recovery process faced by our society, deeply resonating with the philosophy of MINDSOS and "Mind ON STAGE," which emphasizes sharing pain and achieving recovery through connection. This collaboration not only demonstrated the influence of the musical genre on society but is also regarded as an important effort to expand mental health into an everyday conversation.

Theater Company Biyu Musical Team and CEO Seon Changyong, Chairman Hwang Taeyeon of the Korea Life Respect Hope Foundation, CEO Ryu Hyewon of Mindful Connect, CEO Lee Hyeyoung of Ashoka Korea, CEO Yoon Chanmuk of Move Your Mind, KBS Weather Caster Kim Gyuri

Ryu Hyewon, CEO of Mindful Connect, stated, "This 'Mind ON STAGE' was an opportunity for us to share the pain we all encounter in daily life on stage together, confirming the possibility of recovery through empathy and connection," and added, "We will continue to combine art and campaigns to make mental health an everyday topic and create a culture that everyone can participate in."

Seon Changyong, CEO of Theater Company Biyu, who hosted and performed in this event, shared his thoughts, saying, "Art has the power to interpret the pain of life and suggest a path to recovery, and the pain of the protagonists in the musical was a reflection of our own lives." He continued, "I hope that this attempt, combining the musical 'Marigold' and 'Mind ON STAGE,' has become a small spark of comfort and courage for the audience."

Meanwhile, Mindful Connect plans to launch a new small-group session program called "Mind Camp" in October, following "Mind ON STAGE." Mind Camp is a systematically designed program led by certified psychology and counseling professionals, allowing participants to share their experiences in a safe group environment and to enhance emotional recovery and self-respect. Mindful Connect will continue to improve mental health awareness through various art and psychology-based programs and spread a culture where everyone can share their feelings in daily life.