Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ12: Promoting mental health in the community
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 28):
Question:
According to the World Health Organization's estimates of the global burden of
diseases, mental and behavioural disorders represent five of the top ten leading
disease burdens. Furthermore, recently there have been a number of media reports
on verbal violence and even wounding cases triggered off by trivial matters. In
this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has looked into the sources of stress for the general public,
including ascertaining if the current public policies and public administrative
measures are major sources of stress for civil servants, employees of subvented
organizations, users of public service and members of the public;
(b) of the resources allocated annually by the authorities for promoting mental
health in the community, as well as for public education on the awareness of and
ways to handle mental and behavioural disorders, and the organizations
responsible for providing and co-ordinating services and initiatives in this
regard; and
(c) whether a Mental Health Council as proposed by the Equal Opportunities
Commission will be set up to co-ordinate policy formulation, programme
arrangements, research and public education in the area of mental health?
Reply:
(a) Hong Kong is a busy cosmopolitan city. As in all major urban centres, its
residents are inevitably living under considerable pressure. While suitable
level of pressure can push for progress and improvement; excessive stress may
cause health or relationship problems, and have negative impact.
We note the findings of some surveys and researches on stress conducted in Hong
Kong by quite a number of academics and interested organisations. While some of
the most common sources of stress are known to include economic situation, work,
family life and health, individuals differ with respect to their specific causes
of stress, as well as their reactions and thresholds.
In the course of formulating public policies and measures, public consultations
are conducted to gauge the views of the public affected, including civil
servants, employees of government subvented organizations, and users of public
services, etc.
As an employer, the Government has always been concerned with its staff's
occupational safety and health, and has implemented a wide range of measures to
help civil servants to cope with work pressure. On the one hand, we provide
professional counseling service for our staff; and on the other hand, we take
preventive measures to remind the management to be mindful of staff's work
pressure, and to help staff build up stress management skills. We promote a
balanced healthy living model through training courses, seminars and on-line
resource bank. We will continue to develop relevant programme to help our staff
handle work pressure, and to raise the ability and skills of managers in
identifying and helping their staff troubled by stress.
(b) Health, Welfare and Food Bureau spearheads territory-wide public education
on mental health, coordinates the efforts of the Hospital Authority, Department
of Health, Social Welfare Department and other related bureaux/departments, and
seeks to leverage community resources by mobilizing the participation of the
whole community, including all the 18 districts and interested non-government
organizations (NGOs), to promote mental health in different sectors.
Since 1995, the Bureau, in collaboration with all relevant government
departments, NGOs and community personalities, has been organizing the
territory-wide Mental Health Month in October each year to promote specifically
the message of mental health, early intervention and acceptance of ex-mentally
ill persons. In parallel, the Bureau seeks to conduct public education on mental
health through broadcasting APIs and TV docu-drama, etc. via various media. The
Sub-committee on Public Education under the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee
has identified "mental health" as one of the major themes for its public
education programme this year.
Separately, under the coordination of the Bureau, relevant government
departments also seek to bring home the message of mental health through various
channels. The Hospital Authority, through its medical services, particularly its
psychiatric specialist service, carry out mental health education and promotion
in the course of providing relevant assessment and formulating treatment plan.
Department of Health also includes mental health in the scope of its overall
public health education. In parallel, Social Welfare Department seeks to convey
the message of mental health through its rehabilitation services and publicity
activities. Each year, the Government spends over HK$ 3.2 billion in total on
mental health related services, including medical, rehabilitation and publicity,
as well as on the overall public health education.
(c) HWFB assumes overall responsibility in coordinating the policies and
programmes on mental health. The Bureau works closely with the Hospital
Authority, Department of Health, Social Welfare Department, other related
bureaux/departments, NGOs and other interested parties, in formulating policy
and delivery of services on mental health. Our efforts cover all related aspects
from prevention, early identification and intervention, psychiatric treatment
and follow-up care to rehabilitation.
The system has worked well and ensures that our policy is not fragmented. Co-ordinated,
comprehensive and personalized services are provided to persons with mental
illness. A multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach is adopted in the
provision of medical care and rehabilitation services to the mentally ill. The
Bureau will continue to strengthen its co-ordinating role on matters pertaining
to mental health, including enhancing our collaboration with relevant
authorities and NGOs.
In this regard, we do not see the need of setting up a Mental Health Council as
proposed by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and had explained it to the
latter. EOC noted the background and did not insist on its proposal, but urged
the Government to formulate a more comprehensive strategy on mental health in
consultation with users and stakeholders under the current Rehabilitation
Programme Plan (RPP) Review. The Working Group of the Review discussed the
matter and considered that mental health was an important issue and should
involve the participation of the whole society. It also agreed that the RPP
would address more on the issue of mental health, including the enhancement of
integrated services, inter-sectoral collaboration and tripartite partnership.
Ends/Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:10
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