The Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) today announced the launch of a programme to provide free mental health support services to bereaved families following the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

The one-year Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families dovetails with the Social Welfare Department’s “one social worker per household” service to provide grief and bereavement counselling for the families.

The programme can also refer family members to clinical psychologists and/or psychiatrists for follow-up services as required, depending on the assessments of their mental health risks.

Organisations joining the programme will reach out to the affected families to provide the services. The Primary Healthcare Commission may also make referrals through District Health Centres across the city.

Four organisations have joined the programme so far: Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council; the Comfort Care Concern Group and the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.

The Hospital Authority will also train staff members at these social service organisations to better handle disaster-related stress and reactions.

“The Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families will pool strengths from different sectors to provide psychological support for bereaved families affected by the disaster in a timely manner, and journey with them through this difficult time,” said ACMH Chairman Dr Lam Ching-choi.