How recovery oriented are mental health services in Hong Kong? Snapshots of service users' perspectives

Abstract

Today we are witnessing a slow paradigmatic shift in Hong Kong's mental health services to becoming more recovery oriented, the context, meaning and process of which, however, is highly individualised as well as culturally sensitive. Therefore, it is imperative to gather the voices of service users. This paper serves to capture the views of a group of service users on the changes they have seen and the ongoing challenges in mental health services in Hong Kong; and to compare the Hong Kong experience with international experience with a view to reflecting on the directions for future development.

Keywords::

• Chinese culture
• recovery movement
• Asia

Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to the individuals who participated in the working group. In particular, we gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Amy Chung, Alice Kan, Becky Leung, Stephen Wong and Yammi Yuen in facilitating the data collection and providing their comments on the early version of the manuscript.

Notes

^1. Since October 2010, the Social Welfare Department has established 24 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) in Hong Kong. ICCMW aims to provide one-stop, accessible and integrated community-based mental health support services in a local neighbourhood.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emily Tsoi

Ms. Emily Tsoi is doctoral candidate and Ms. Iris Lo is a research assistant at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Ms. Catherine Chan and Mr. Ken Siu are service users and members of the working group of this writing project. Dr. Samson Tse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

Iris Lo

Ms. Emily Tsoi is doctoral candidate and Ms. Iris Lo is a research assistant at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Ms. Catherine Chan and Mr. Ken Siu are service users and members of the working group of this writing project. Dr. Samson Tse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

Catherine Chan

Ms. Emily Tsoi is doctoral candidate and Ms. Iris Lo is a research assistant at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Ms. Catherine Chan and Mr. Ken Siu are service users and members of the working group of this writing project. Dr. Samson Tse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

Ken Siu

Ms. Emily Tsoi is doctoral candidate and Ms. Iris Lo is a research assistant at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Ms. Catherine Chan and Mr. Ken Siu are service users and members of the working group of this writing project. Dr. Samson Tse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong

Samson Tse

Ms. Emily Tsoi is doctoral candidate and Ms. Iris Lo is a research assistant at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. Ms. Catherine Chan and Mr. Ken Siu are service users and members of the working group of this writing project. Dr. Samson Tse is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong