Mind HK is seeking new well-being practitioner applicants to help improve mental healthcare in Hong Kong

Organised by local mental health charity, Mind HK, the new Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) training programme offers a notable opportunity for compassionate individuals ardent about improving access to mental healthcare and contributing to the society in Hong Kong. 

The comprehensive PWP training programme, now open for application, features classroom learning from specialists, expert clinical supervision, and placements in diverse settings. It is sponsored by the Hemera Foundation and will equip trainees with essential skills and knowledge, including counselling, clinical risk assessment and management, and psychological intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Trainee wellbeing practitioners will provide free-of-charge, short-term (up to 8 sessions), low-intensity interventions to adults in Hong Kong aged from 18 years to 65  experiencing mild to moderate mental problems, such as anxiety and depression, who can benefit from the access to early mental health support. “Similar interventions conducted overseas find that 50 to 70 percent of patients achieve recovery status,” CEO of Mind HK, Dr Candice Powell, says. “People experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety can receive early intervention to prevent developing more severe mental illnesses and enhance their quality of life,” Powell adds. 

Mental health has remained a neglected healthcare area in Hong Kong. Due to social stigma and a persistent shortage of resources, many people do not have the time nor means to seek help when experiencing mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant mental health problems have also become more prevalent in Hong Kong. A survey by Mind HK conducted in March 2022 revealed that one in five in Hong Kong are experiencing a mental health problem. 

Citing statistics from the Mental Health Month 2022 Organising Committee, Oct 2022, Powell states that for the 5th consecutive year Hong Kong has, on average, scored below the passing mark of 52 out of 100 in the Mental Health Index (based on WHO-5). Hong Kong’s score in 2022 is 47.64, indicating their overall mental well-being as “poor”.

The city lacks low-cost support from the public healthcare sector: waiting times for out-patient psychiatric services range from 14 to 63 weeks and some patients have waited for more than 90 weeks (figures from Hospital Authority between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022.) Most respondents in Mind HK’s latest research cited the high cost of professional help as the number one concern and many do not know where to get help. “In view of the soaring demand for mental health services, efforts to enhance and expand the cost-effectiveness of mental health services demand immediate action,” Dr Powell says.