Prof. Vivian HUI, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been appointed Programme Lead of the new phase of the Community Mental Health Support Programme. Coordinated by the Advisory Committee on Mental Health under the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government and supported by a donation of over HK$10 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the programme will be implemented in 2026–2027 to provide sustained and comprehensive mental health support for residents affected by the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire. Prof. Hui is a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and has long been involved in the development of mental health policies and services in Hong Kong.
Led by PolyU, the Community Mental Health Support Programme aims to provide comprehensive and tailored mental health support through mental health monitoring, risk assessment and stepped-care services. The programme also leverages data analytics to inform long-term support strategies, with a view to enhancing the community’s capacity to respond to and recover from major incidents. Particular attention is given to residents who were relocated to transitional housing following the fire, through outreach mental health services and professional counselling support.
The first phase of the programme achieved significant outcomes, with about 300 residents having completed comprehensive mental health screenings to date. The project team also organised 10 workshops focusing on insomnia management and psychological resilience, and referred more than 10 individuals in need to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness for further support and follow-up.
Under the new phase, a multidisciplinary team comprising psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals will provide mental health support services at 12 transitional housing sites. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the team will work closely with the JC JoyAge Project to further strengthen community outreach efforts, offering psychological counselling to individuals experiencing anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges. The programme will also facilitate access to appropriate medical and specialist services for those in need, thereby promoting mental well-being and recovery within the community.
| Research Units | Mental Health Research Centre |
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