Mental Health and Well-being Support for Japanese Young Professionals: From Students to Early-Career Employees

Workshop | Hosted by Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics & GPI

Ms. Haruka Kokaze led a workshop for 50 Japanese high school students focused on mental health and well-being in the context of early career development through an invitation from Dr. Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu’s Heartfulness Lab. The session drew on the Heartfulness themes of purpose, reflection, acceptance, and transformation and invited students to reflect on their lived experiences as sources of insight and direction as they begin to consider the transition from student life to early career, with attention to personal well-being. The discussion emphasized that purpose can be shaped by how individuals relate to their work and the meaning they derive from it. Ms. Kokaze also highlighted that reconnecting with one’s sense of purpose can protect against burnout, strengthen motivation, and support a healthier relationship with work over time.