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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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