Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, announced a series of new measures aimed at addressing the city’s escalating mental health crisis during his second Policy Address on Wednesday.
Under the new initiatives, a pilot scheme will be launched within the next year in collaboration with local organizations at three District Health Centers. This scheme will focus on providing early follow-up and referrals for high-risk mental health cases, along with offering mental health assessments for those in need.
Additionally, a “mental health literacy kit” will be distributed to schools. These resource kits, as revealed by Lee, will be supplied to upper primary and junior secondary levels during the 2023-25 school years, with plans to introduce similar resources for lower primary and senior secondary levels in the future.
Speaking before lawmakers at the Legislative Council, Lee expressed the government’s deep commitment to mental health and pledged to follow an integrated approach, encompassing prevention, early identification, and the timely provision of intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals requiring support.
Furthermore, the Chief Executive unveiled plans for the establishment of four additional Parents/Relatives Resource Centers within the Social Welfare Department, intended to support caregivers of individuals on their journey to mental recovery.
In a significant move, the government will collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to trial a service center dedicated to providing emotional support and counseling services for Ethic Minorities.
The urgency of addressing mental health issues in Hong Kong was underlined by a study from the University of Hong Kong, published in May, which indicated that a quarter of young people in the city were believed to have experienced mental health problems, with depression being the most prevalent condition.
Hong Kong has experienced a worrisome trend in its population’s mental health over the past decade, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the 2022 United Nations World Happiness Report, it ranked 83rd out of 137 countries.
Additionally, the Hong Kong Mental Health Index Survey, released annually by multiple rehabilitation and public institutions, revealed that the average mental health index score for Hong Kong residents has remained below the passing grade for five consecutive years since 2018.
The government’s renewed focus on mental health gained momentum in June after a series of stabbings, prompting the proposal of 10 “enhanced measures” to support individuals with mental health needs. These measures include optimizing the ratio of case managers to patients with severe mental disorders and expanding the use of psychiatric treatments with fewer side effects. The government also aimed to reduce waiting times for patients and improve communication between the Hospital Authority and the Social Welfare Department. While some of these waiting time targets were already being met, they were acknowledged and reinforced by the government’s proposals.
