Are There Enough Professional Mental Health Services in Hong Kong?
Mental Health Professionals
Mental health professionals are health care service providers who offer to assess and improve one’s mental health. These professionals can be established as individuals or agencies that support a more extensive mental health care support system.
Psychologists, counselors, clinicians, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and pastoral counselors are all considered professionals in this field. Each of these professions required certifications or licensure for lawful practice.
They can be found in general hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and community health clinics. Some do public practice in schools or government agencies while some choose to freelance or establish private agencies.
Mental Health Providers in Hong Kong
In developed countries, there are roughly 8 public sector psychiatrists for every 100,000 people. Hong Kong only has around 4 of that for the same number of people. The World Health Organization recommends 10. With the current mental health crisis in the country, the lacking count in mental health support professionals is supposed to be filled by professional service providers in the private sector.
Psychiatric patients see an increasing trend these past few years and the facilities to accommodate the increase in numbers are yet to catch up. The mix of stigma, discrimination, and lack of mental health services all contribute to making these services hard to acquire for patients.
Government Response
The government has created programs and initiatives to address mental health issues. Even after acknowledging their effort despite the public stigma prevalent among their citizens, there are reports of service gaps in their programs. Waiting time for appointment setting can last up to a couple of years, without guarantee of actually being arranged for treatment after the consultation.
Other mental initiatives employ the help of technology to make up for the lack of human resources. One example would be a mental health assessment for students project that uses an AI chatbot and games have been launched in various schools in Hong Kong.
Private Mental Health Services
Mental health counselling professionals in Hong Kong have helped fill the gap. Everyday Empathy is one of the many service providers with counselors who are willing to guide individuals through the process of achieving good mental well-being.
Common services for mental balance include counselling, prescription medicine, support group, and other specialized treatment programs. Technology has been an amazing aid in making these services accessible.
Due to shame, stigma, and lack of information, only 1 out of 4 individuals experiencing symptoms of mental disorders reach out to professionals for help. Despite these low figures, the number of health care providers needed to cater to mental health issues cannot match the demand.
Ways to Help as an Individual
Knowledge empowers. Educate yourself on the facts surrounding mental health issues. Doing so gives you better insight on the topic and makes it easier to notice these symptoms from others or from yourself.
When you notice someone going through a rough time, check up on them. Start a conversation. Seeing someone down does not necessarily mean they are suffering from a mental illness but knowing that you are willing to listen gives a potential patient additional courage to reach out if ever they need to.
