2016 Mental Health Month promotes family mental health (with photos)
********************************************************************
Officiating at the event, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that the Government attaches great importance to the mental health of Hong Kong residents and has kept reviewing the operation of community support services to keep pace with demand. He stressed that the collaboration of various community sectors and the Government is needed for the effective promotion of mental health at different community levels.
The theme of the 2016 Mental Health Month is family mental health. A special sharing session by guest speakers on promoting mental health and wellness of families from their experience as parents formed part of the event held at the Grand Theatre of the Heung Yee Kuk Building in Sha Tin.
Mr Cheung pointed out that the Social Welfare Department has rolled out the district-based one-stop service mode through the 24 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) throughout Hong Kong since the restructuring of its community mental health support services in October 2010. Up to now, the ICCMWs have organised over 15 000 public education activities which attracted more than 798 000 participants. More than 57 000 people with or recovering from mental illness have benefitted from the service.
The Government is committed to providing holistic and co-ordinated mental health services in a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach through the synergy of the healthcare and social welfare systems. The manpower of the ICCMWs has been enhanced to tie in with the Case Management Programme of the Hospital Authority. The Government's financial allocation for the ICCMWs was more than doubled from $135 million in 2010 to over $286 million in 2016-17, Mr Cheung pointed out.
To increase public participation (including the elderly, adults and adolescents) in promoting mental well-being and enhancing their knowledge and understanding of mental health, the Department of Health launched a territory-wide three-year mental health public education and publicity campaign, the Joyful@HK Campaign, in late January 2016. The Campaign advocates the elements of "Sharing", "Mind" and "Enjoyment" to make people's lives healthier, happier and more meaningful.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony were the Under Secretary for Food and Health and Chairman of the Advisory Group on Mental Health Promotion, Professor Sophia Chan; the Director of Health and Vice-chairman of the Advisory Group on Mental Health Promotion, Dr Constance Chan; the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Professor Alfred Chan; the Commissioner for Rehabilitation, Mr David Leung; the Convenor of the Fund Vetting Panel under the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee's Sub-committee on Public Education on Rehabilitation, Mr Eric Lee; the Ambassadors of the 2016 Mental Health Month, Jerry Lamb and Lily Hong; and the Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the 2016 Mental Health Month, Ms Elaine Lam.
During the ceremony, Mr Cheung presented certificates of appreciation to the Ambassadors for their support for the event. Mr Cheung and other guests also presented certificates of merit to winning students in a creative visual arts competition and the winners of a lyrics competition. The winners also spoke about their creative process and the winning entries were presented onstage by performing groups.
Mental Health Month is co-organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, various government departments, public organisations and non-governmental organisations. Details of Mental Health Month activities can be found on the Labour and Welfare Bureau website (www.lwb.gov.hk).
Ends/Saturday, January 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:11
Issued at HKT 17:11
NNNN
Photo
