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Mental health support rising: Ko

December 19, 2012
Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man says the Government is providing more comprehensive and intensive support for mental health patients.
 
Dr Ko told lawmakers today that about 187,000 patients with varying degrees of mental health problems are receiving psychiatric specialist services provided by the Hospital Authority. At the end of September, the median waiting time for first appointment at psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics was about seven weeks, and the number of people waiting for treatment was about 13,000.
 
Dr Ko said government expenditure on the issue in 2011-12 increased by 30% on 2007-08, with the total amount of expenditure for the past five years exceeding $19 billion.
 
As at the end of September, the authority employed 195 healthcare and allied health personnel with experience in community mental health services as case managers for the provision of intensive and personalised community support to more than 11,000 patients.
 
As at the end of September, the Mental Health Hotline had handled 11,300 phone calls. Most users were patients receiving psychiatric services, while the rest were family members of patients and the public.
 
Dr Ko said the direction of mental health policy is to adopt a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral team approach in delivering a comprehensive range of mental health services.


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