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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the opening ceremony of CENTRAL RAT Race 2012 today (October 14):
Mr Keswick (Mr Ben Keswick, Chairman of MINDSET), Mr Pang (Mr Y K Pang, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land), Mr Chow (Mr Raymond Chow, Executive Director of Hongkong Land), Mr Yip (Mr Yip Wing-shing, Chairman of Central and Western District Council), Mr Chan (Mr Chan Hok-fung, Vice Chairman of Central and Western District Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to take part in this CENTRAL Rat Race 2012 organised by the Hongkong Land. I am honoured indeed to meet, and address, such a distinguished audience comprising corporate executives from multi-national and local business firms, members from the rehabilitation sector and our younger generation.
To live in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, keeping mental health is just as important as maintaining physical fitness. Over the years, this meaningful event has become one of Hong Kong's signature charity initiatives and helped raise over HK$12.6 million for MINDSET to support mental health-related organisations and projects in Hong Kong and on the Mainland since 2006. May I take this opportunity to thank all the Jardine Ambassadors of MINDSET for your enthusiasm and efforts in raising public awareness of mental health issues, as well as supporting persons recovering from mental illness to integrate into society in collaboration with rehabilitation non-governmental organisations and academic bodies.
The Government is keenly aware of the needs of persons with mental health problems and their families/carers, and keeps under regular review the provision of community mental health services in response to changing demand. As you may be aware, the Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) have commenced service in 18 districts across the territory since October 2010. These centres provide one-stop and accessible mental health support services ranging from prevention to crisis management for discharged mental patients, persons with suspected mental health problems, their families/carers and residents living in the community.
By the end of June 2012, some 22 000 discharged mental patients and persons with suspected mental health problems received services from the 24 centres across all 18 districts. During the period, around 4 000 public education and publicity programmes were organised, benefitting more than 227 000 people. This favourable output reflected that the services have been widely supported and recognised by the public and service users.
Over the past few years, the Government has been injecting additional resources to the Hospital Authority (HA) and Social Welfare Department (SWD) to enhance the provision of mental health services. Indeed, the total expenditure of mental health services has increased from $3.39 billion in 2007-08 to $4.52 billion in 2011-12, representing an increase of 30 per cent. This year, the Hospital Authority has extended its Case Management Programme for the severe mentally ill patients to a total of 12 districts. Additional resources have also been provided to the ICCMWs to strengthen their manpower and supervisory support so as to serve more persons in need. Moreover, SWD has since 2005-06 increased the number of psychiatric medical social workers by 46 per cent to tie in with HA¡¯s various initiatives on mental health services and to assist the mentally ill persons and their families/carers to overcome the difficulties and stresses arising from mental illness.
Given the increasing demand for community mental health support services, the Government will continue to enhance the service quality and provide additional resources to meet growing service demand. In tandem, the Government will reinforce collaboration with various sectors, including the business sector, the rehabilitation sector and the local communities in promoting mental health. Last Sunday, at a kick-off event of the annual Mental Health Month, I joined over 1 500 participants from the business sector, education sector, rehabilitation sector and district councils for a Mental Health Walk from Victoria Park to Wan Chai to raise public awareness of mental wellness. Mindset is one of the supporting organisations of the event.
This week, I am most delighted to join the Rat Race - another landmark event in promoting mental health. I am sure that with the concerted efforts of the community, we are able to make Hong Kong a truly caring and healthy city.
In closing, may I thank Hongkong Land once again for organising this very innovative and meaningful charity event, and also MINDSET for your sterling contribution to arouse public awareness on the importance of mental health. I wish the CENTRAL Rat Race 2012 every success and everyone here a memorable and fruitful experience! Thank you.
Ends/Sunday, October 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 10:31
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