"City Companion" Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health launched

2024-04-29 16:13 Last Updated At：04-30 00:42

City companion: new community alliance promotes mental health awareness

âThe Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) co-operated with the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, the SideBySide, and the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong to form the "City Companion" Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health today (April 29), working together to draw public attention to the importance of mental health through training instructors and supporting mental-health services.

As the demand for mental-health services increases in society, the AMS will, through collaborating with members of the Alliance, train up some of its adult members and volunteer members as "Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructors" equipped with the skills to identify early signs of mental illnesses. The AMS members, after becoming instructors, will then be responsible for providing training for other members and assisting in organising mental-health promotional activities to raise students' and public awareness of the importance of mental health.

The Launch Ceremony of the Alliance was held at the HKMU Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare this morning and the Chief Staff Officer of the AMS, Mr Wong Ying-keung, attended. In the initial stage, the Alliance will focus on the community in Kowloon City District.

In addition, targeting mental health of young people, some AMS cadets will attend a tailor-made mental-health training programme to learn more about the importance of mental health and maintain positive thinking. Upon completion of the training, cadets will become "LMK (Let Me Know) buddies" in the team who will listen to their emotionally distressed peers and accompany them to seek support. The programme is expected to be launched in July.

S for S visits Guangzhou and Shenzhen

2024-05-16 19:58 Last Updated At：20:38

Exploring guangzhou and shenzhen with s for s

âThe Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen today (May 16) to call on the Department of Emergency Management of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Mr Tang arrived in Shenzhen in the morning and departed for Guangzhou in the afternoon. In Guangzhou, Mr Tang called on the Director of the Department of Emergency Management of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Zaihua, to express gratitude for his support for and guidance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in taking forward the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Emergency Management Co-operation and Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operation Co-operation Framework Agreement. Mr Tang said the relevant work has made important achievements and expressed the hope that the three places will sign the agreement in Hong Kong in the near future, and formulate the new Greater Bay Area Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan, so as to consolidate resources for emergency response among the cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to enhance the efficacy of cross-boundary rescue efforts.

Mr Tang also called on Vice-Governor of the Guangdong Province and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Mr Liu Guozhou, to brief him on the latest developments of the relevant matters of the HKSAR, including the recent completion of the local legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. They discussed deepening co-operation in different areas, including combating cross-boundary crimes and illegal immigration, as well as emergency management, flow of talent, and training and exchanges, to enhance collaborative development and law enforcement capabilities of the two places.

In the morning in Shenzhen, Mr Tang called on Vice Mayor of Shenzhen and Director General of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, Mr Zhao Yong. Mr Tang expressed gratitude to Mr Zhao for his support for the work of the Security Bureau and its disciplinary services. They also exchanged views on areas such as strengthening police co-operation, facilitating flow of people and combating crimes, especially deception, in the hope of jointly taking forward major areas of work. Mr Tang then visited the Shenzhen Bay Service Center of Nanshan Branch of the Public Security Bureau to learn about the convenient one-stop service offered to the public.

Mr Tang concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong this evening.