Advisory Committee on Mental Health co-ordinates multiple measures to support mental health needs relating to Tai Po fire
The Task Force on Mental Health Support Following the Tai Po Fire under the Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) held the second meeting today (December 12) to discuss multiple measures to provide mental health support to families and members of the public affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The ACMH adopted the stepped care model on mental health and provides services covering prevention, early identification, targeted assessment and referral to specialist services, to take care of the mental health needs of the affected residents and members of the public from different aspects.
The Chairman of the ACMH, Dr Lam Ching-choi, said, "In the face of this unfortunate incident, we must build a more comprehensive mental health support network. The Task Force is co-ordinating and enhancing multiple measures, aiming to provide timely and appropriate support to every affected family, accompany them through their pain, and help them rebuild their lives."
The major measures being co-ordinated by the Task Force are as follows:
(1) Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families (the Programme)
Following yesterday's (December 11) announcement on the participation of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, the Comfort Care Concern Group, and the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong in the one-year Programme, three more non-governmental organisations (NGOs) joined the Programme today, namely The Salvation Army, St. James' Settlement, and Suicide Prevention Services. The seven NGOs will arrange multi-disciplinary professional teams comprising social workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and counsellors to provide bereaved families with free mental health support services such as grief and bereavement counselling, and actively reach out to the bereaved families. At present, they have established contacts with families of about 130 deceased. In addition to proactive outreach by the participating organisations to bereaved families, relevant families may also call the "18111 - Mental Health Support Hotline". The hotline will arrange dedicated follow-up and provide targeted grief and bereavement counselling after receiving their calls. For enquiries about the Programme, please contact the participating organisations. Details are in the Annex.
(2) Project to enhance mental health support in transitional housing projects where Wang Fuk Court residents are living in
The ACMH will implement a project in the transitional housing projects where Wang Fuk Court residents are living in and provide additional mental health resources, including the consideration of arranging additional mental health related professional manpower (especially psychiatric nurses) and adding facilities for setting up support stations through universities and NGOs, with a view to providing more tailored mental health services.
(3) Primary healthcare support in the community
The Primary Healthcare Commission has set up a hotline service at District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses across all 18 districts for affected residents to provide personalised case management services, including specialised healthcare, nursing, and medication services, as well as psychological support. Since December 1, the hotline has received 97 calls, and referred 28 cases to private family doctors participated in the free family doctor service scheme, and provided mental health support services to 29 attendances. In addition, the "Healthy Mind Pilot Project" and the JC JoyAge Project will also be extended to Tai Po and nearby areas, with outreach teams proactively contacting local residents to conduct preliminary emotional questionnaire assessments and, for those in need, provide evidence based low intensity psychological therapy, so that they can receive more comprehensive care and support.
(4) Strengthening the Student Mental Health Support Scheme (SMHSS)
The Government is exploring the provision of support services to about 15 primary and secondary schools in Tai Po with relatively more students living in Wang Fuk Court through the SMHSS. Based on the medical-educational-social collaboration model, multi-disciplinary teams will be arranged to provide comprehensive assessments at schools to affected students with mental health needs, to formulate, implement and evaluate individual care plan, and to provide appropriate intervention services.
(5) The Hospital Authority (HA) and professional organisations to provide professional training for frontline staff
The HA and professional organisations will assist in training staff of relevant social service organisations to enhance their knowledge of and skills in responding to reactions and stress brought about by disasters.
Advisory Committee on Mental Health co-ordinates multiple measures to support mental health needs relating to Tai Po fire Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Advisory Committee on Mental Health co-ordinates multiple measures to support mental health needs relating to Tai Po fire Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
