Press Releases

Families the focus of Mental Health Month

The care and understanding of family members gives us the strength and motivation to ride out adversity, the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, said today (October 11).

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of Mental Health Month 2003, Mrs Yau said that harmonious families were the cornerstone of a united and cohesive society.

"If every family member can get on well with each other, not only our family life will be much happier, the society, in the end, will become more cohesive and harmonious.

"With this year's theme 'Mental Health in the Family', we hope to highlight the importance of a harmonious family to one's mental health," she added.

Also officiating at today's ceremony were the Chairman of the Sub-committee on Public Education on Rehabilitation of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, Dr Ip Yan-ming; Mental Health Ambassadors, Mr Allen Lee and Ms Nancy Sit; entertainment celebrities Mr Alfred Cheung, Ms Lam Kin-ming and Mr Tsang Chee-wah.

Mental Health Month is an annual large-scale publicity campaign organised by the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, various government departments and non-governmental organisations.

This year's campaign aims to raise awareness of family mental health through improving one's communication and relationships among family members. Events include "Mental Health in the Family-- Let's Strive for Harmony" Essay Writing Competition and "Harmonious Family" Ambassadors Election.

The essay writing competition attracted over 22,000 entries from primary and secondary schools. Winners were today presented awards at the opening ceremony.

The competition aimed at encouraging students to express their heartfelt wishes to their next of kin so as to strengthen the communication and understanding among family members.

The "Harmonious Family" Ambassadors Election commends families that have stayed united and positive in the face of adversity. It is hoped that the message of "Mental Health in the Family" can be conveyed to the public through these families. Ten families won a two-day, one-night "Harmonious Family" cruise aboard the SuperStar Leo.

In the ensuing three months, more than 80 activities, including seminars, workshops, exhibitions and recreational activities will be held throughout Hong Kong to disseminate the message of mental health in the family.

The public can visit the homepage of Health, Welfare and Food Bureau at www.hwfb.gov.hk for more details.

Ends/Saturday, October 11, 2003
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