Better Care for Serious Mental Illness in Rehabilitation Journey

Lead  Prof. Hector TSANG

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences | Mental Health Research Centre | Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation | Research Institute for Sports and Technology

The research led by Prof. Hector Tsang has developed evidence-based interventions that addressed unmet needs and improve the care and rehabilitation of people with serious mental illness across the treatment journey – from early intervention to community reintegration.

Their publicly-available online self-help programme, Smart Eating, expands access to early support for eating disorders, helping reduce anxiety, depression and symptom severity. In psychiatric care, culturally adapted adherence therapy has been integrated into routine hospital services, improving treatment engagement, reducing readmissions and improving long-term outcomes. The team also pioneered Integrated Supported Employment, enabling more people with serious mental illness to build skills and confidence, secure jobs and remain in work longer.

These innovations have been adopted by hospitals, NGOs and rehabilitation services across Hong Kong, influenced government rehabilitation planning, and informed international treatment guidelines—delivering lasting societal benefit and stronger outcomes for healthcare and workforce participation.

RAE 2020 Impact Case Study