A Critical Review on the Current
Hong Kong Mental Health Issues
Dr Chan Chung Mau
Chairperson
H K Association for the Promotion of Mental Health
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Major tragic incidents involving mentally ill
patients in Hong Kong
•
Un Chau Street Incident (1982)
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Major tragic incidents involving mentally ill
patients in Hong Kong
•
Kwai Shing East Estate Incident (2010)
Repeated tragic incidents signify deficiencies in the
current mental health care system
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Current issues in mental health
in Hong Kong
Mental Health System
• Current pitfalls in priority follow-up system
• Lack of sufficient funding and a separate budget for
mental health
• Inadequate staffing and training levels
• Underuse of newer-generation antipsychotics
• Poor coordination amongst existing psychiatric
services
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Current issues in mental healthcare
system in Hong Kong
Mental Health System
• Inadequate united community effort (within and cross
different sectors) to lobby for a change in the current
system and advocate government for improving
mental health policy in Hong Kong
Mental Health Policy
• Lack of holistic view to tackle mental health
problems for Hong Kong citizens
• Lack of contemporary researches to analyze the
mental health problems of Hong Kong
• Neglect of long term mental health policy
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Next step
Short Term
Appointment with the key stakeholders for improving mental
health policy
• Potential Candidates of Chief Executive
• Key Members of Legislative Council
• Secretary of Labor and Welfare Bureau
• Secretary of Food and Health Bureau
• Chief Executive of Hospital Authority
Long Term
New Initiative to establish the Mental Health Committee or
Commission
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Other Suggestions
Reference
Mental Health Committee and Commission
NGO Committee on Mental Health
Introduction
The NGO Committee on Mental Health was established in 1996
under the auspices of the Conference of Non-Governmental
Organizations (CONGO) in Consultative Status with the United
Nations Economic and Social Council.
The Committee's members represent a diversified constituency.
The members include NGOs, individuals, the private sector,
governments and representatives of the UN and its various
agencies.
•
Source: The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations
in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations
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Reference
Mental Health Committee and Commission
The Mental Health Standing Committee
Introduction
In 1991 the Australian Health Minister' Advisory Council
(AHMAC) established the National Mental Health
Working Group (NMHWG) to oversee the
implementation of the National Mental Health Strategy
(NMHS), and to provide a forum for cross-jurisdictional
information exchange to encourage a consistent
approach to the implementation of the NMHS. NMHWG
also provided advice to the Commonwealth Minister for
Health on expenditure of mental health national project
funding.
Source : the Health Policy Priorities Principal Committee
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Reference
Mental Health Committee and Commission
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Introduction
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a national non-profit
organization created by the Canadian government in 2007 to govern
issues relating to mental health and mental illness.
The organization is governed by a board of directors including 11 nongovernmental directors. Seven of these directors are appointed by the
government. This board will be assisted by eight advisory committees.
Source: Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
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Reference
Mental Health Committee Focus and Guiding Principles
The focus of the Committee's advocacy centers around five critical
areas: social development, human rights, the rights of persons with
psychiatric disabilities, gender perspectives, peace building and
social reconciliation.
Promote a holistic approach to prevention, treatment and policy
development;
Promote positive attitudes about mental health;
Promote mental health as essential in social development and
peace-building;
Promote relationships/partnerships within the UN system and with
other NGOs;
Promote mental health as a basic human right;
Promote mental health throughout all the periods of the life cycle
Source: The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in
Consultative Relationship with the United Nations
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Reference
Early Stage for the Development of the Mental
Health committee
The Mental Health Committee is a monthly forum which
enjoins mental health providers, allied public and
nonprofit organizations, consumers, advocates,
concerned citizens and others to discuss and share
ideas which address mental health-related issues and
advance policy and other important initiatives.
Source: Empowerment Congress, Los Angeles
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Reference
The Mental Health Standing Committee
•
Membership
• The membership is endorsed by the HPPPC. The MHSC, as a
decision making committee to progress national policy and
reform, members must have the ability to represent their
jurisdiction/organisation.
Chair (a Director of Mental Health appointed by the HPPPC)
• Directors of Mental Health or equivalent in each state and
territory
• A representative from the Department of Health and Ageing
(DoHA)
• A representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
• A representative from the Department of Families, Housing, 14
Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
Reference
• The Mental Health Standing Committee
• Membership
• A representative from the private sector, currently nominated
through the Private Mental Health Alliance (PMHA)
• Chair of the Mental Health Council of Australia
• A mental health consumer representative and a mental health
carer representative. The Mental Health Council of Australia
(MHCA) is requested to seek nominations from the co-chairs of
the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum for
these representatives. The carer and consumer members must
be representatives of consumer and carer organisations and are
to each represent their constituency and not the MHCA.
Source : the Health Policy Priorities Principal Committee
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