Preventing Poor Mental Health: Meet Hong

Hong Zhou is the founder of Mile Rainbow CIC, which is one of the seven entrepreneurs in our 2026 Together for Wellbeing cohort.

Next up from our Together for Wellbeing programme cohort is Hong Zhou, founder of Mile Rainbow CIC. Hong is driven by the desire that we should protect our emotional wellbeing in the same way we approach our physical wellbeing. There is often a big focus on treatment with mental health as opposed to prevention, leaving individuals already in a place of poor mental health before a solution is offered, but Mile Rainbow CIC supports people to control their stress and minimise harmful impacts on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Preventing poor mental health is vital for a number of reasons; firstly – and most importantly – because of the impact it has on the individual. Poor mental health can lead to a range of negative outcomes, from the more severe increased morbidity and mortality in those with mental illness [1] to struggles day to day with enjoying daily tasks and activities. But poor mental health can have wider impacts on housing, access to healthcare, the economy and more.

Mile Rainbow aims to prevent this, working with partners to deliver vital sessions as well as hosting their own events and workshops.

We’re excited to introduce you to Hong Zhou and find out more about her social enterprise below.

Please introduce yourself

My name is Hong Zhou MBBS MSc MPH MHFA, and I am the Founder and Director of Mile Rainbow CIC (MR.CIC). I am a Preventive Medicine Specialist with an NHS background and am passionate about helping people build emotional wellbeing before challenges become crises.

And tell us about your social enterprise, Balance Together CIC...

MR.CIC is a multi-award-winning social enterprise based in London. Through our Emotional Vaccine (EV) programme, we help individuals, entrepreneurs and organisations build emotional immunity using evidence-based, creative and culturally inclusive approaches that transform wellbeing science into practical everyday skills.

Since 2022, we have supported more than 4,600 participants through projects delivered in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, universities, workplaces and community organisations across Islington, Greenwich, Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Southwark.

What is your why for doing the work you do?

During my career in the NHS, I realised that most wellbeing support becomes available only after people are already struggling.

My own experiences of caring for family members and overcoming personal challenges reinforced the importance of prevention. I founded MR.CIC because I believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn practical skills to protect their emotional wellbeing before difficulties escalate.

In an ideal world, what impact do you want your social enterprise to have?

I would like emotional wellbeing education to become as normal as learning about physical health.

My vision is for people of all ages and backgrounds to develop emotional immunity, enabling them to thrive in their personal lives, workplaces and communities while reducing preventable mental ill health, burnout and social isolation.

"I would like emotional wellbeing education to become as normal as learning about physical health.”

Hong Zhou

What is the real-world impact of your social enterprise?

Since launching in 2022, we have delivered programmes to more than 4,600 participants in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, universities, workplaces and community organisations. Around 80% of our participants are from minority ethnic communities, and 90% report improvements in wellbeing, social connection, physical activity and confidence after taking part in our sessions.

We are proud to have received several awards recognising our impact, including the Health and Wellness Enterprise Award from the University of East London’s Royal Docks School of Business and Law and the Waltham Forest Pride Awards (Enterprise for All). We have also been recognised nationally as finalists in the National BAME Health & Care Awards and the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards, among others.

Why did you want to join the Together for Wellbeing programme?

The Together for Wellbeing programme provides an opportunity to learn from other purpose-driven organisations, strengthen our impact, and become part of a supportive community that shares our commitment to improving wellbeing. We also hope to develop new partnerships and exchange ideas that enable us to reach even more people.

What is the importance of mental wellbeing?

Mental wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Through Emotional Vaccine, we help people build emotional immunity by developing practical skills that strengthen resilience, emotional intelligence and social connection. Our focus is prevention – empowering people to stay well, rather than waiting until they become unwell.

Tell us something about yourself not related to your work

Outside of my work with MR.CIC, I have developed a great passion for law. As a self-taught litigant in person, I have independently studied employment, human rights and immigration law, representing myself in complex legal proceedings. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey that has strengthened my analytical thinking, resourcefulness and determination. When I’m not reading legal cases, I enjoy traditional calligraphy, brush painting, learning foreign languages, dance and movement.