Government efforts against mental disorders are as strong as those against infectious disease, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau says.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 11th Scientific Meeting of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists today, Mrs Yau said with all the recent high profile attention on infectious disease, there is perhaps a perception that non-communicable diseases like mental disorders may not be high on the Government's health and welfare policy agenda.

She said this is not the case, adding that behind all the publicity on anti-SARS measures and actions to combat avian flu, frontline healthcare professionals continue to work diligently to provide quality services to promote and safeguard mental health.

Four-way focus

Mrs Yau said the Government's efforts focus on four key areas - empowerment (equipping people with the appropriate health knowledge), advocacy, service enhancement and research for evidence-based policy formulation.

On empowerment, Mrs Yau said the Department of Health has been active in designing and providing programmes to make mental health-related information and knowledge easily accessible to people through exhibition, posters, pamphlets, TV announcements and the Internet.

Noting that stigmatisation remains a critical issue behind the many problems faced by patients, she said it has to be eliminated, and the best way is through health advocacy and ensuring a proper perspective of mental health by society.

Mental Health Month

Since 1995, the Government has been organising the annual Mental Health Month campaign to promote public awareness on the issue.

Through the campaign, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau has been working with more than 20 Government departments and non-government organisations to advocate issues like elimination of discrimination, mental health at the workplace, families and among children, and stress management.

On enhancement of psychiatric services, Mrs Yau said the Hospital Authority has implemented special preventive programmes targeted at teenagers, adolescents and the elderly.

EXITERS scheme

On the pilot project EXITERS (Extended care patients Intensive Treatment Early diversion & Rehabilitation Stepping-stone), developed by the authority in 2002-03 for patients on rehabilitation to facilitate their eventual discharge and smooth integration into the community, Mrs Yau said more than 100 patients have been discharged through the scheme so far.

She said the Government has also improved its support to patients, including funding the prescription of new and clinically effective psychiatric drugs, and providing services nearer to the patients' home and putting more psychiatric beds in general hospitals.

The Government has attached considerable importance to mental health research and development. Apart from the two bureau research funds supporting mental-related projects, Mrs Yau said the bureau has also secured $81 million from the Jockey Club to establish the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing and $12.2 million to establish the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research & Prevention in 2002.