Improving Access to Psychological Interventions: Developing and Disseminating an E-Mental Health Portal in Hong Kong
Prof. Fiona Ho
The issue
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The importance of mental health is getting more and more attention among the general public; while many recognise their emotional problems, only a disproportionate fraction actually receives professional help. To begin with, strong stigmatisation towards mental illness in our society thwart help-seeking. Those who do seek ways out might however be confused about how to get referrals, deterred by the long waiting line at psychiatry clinics, or find difficulties in finding reliable information and credible services, especially because Hong Kong does not currently have a registration system for clinical psychologists.
The solution
The team of mental health professionals take up the enormous task of gathering currently disorganised and scattered information into an e-portal, which is fully validated and evidence-based. Its features include treatment options and decision aids for users to opt for appropriate treatment; free screening tests; guidance and search tools for local mental health care services; recommended self-help materials available locally; and a user community for emotional support and social interaction.
Beneficiaries
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Public members
Social Impact
The portal promotes help-seeking and mental health literacy, as well as improves access to effective psychological interventions with appropriate intensity. People suffering from mental health issues are often reluctant to speak out and hide their emotions. For a population increasingly glued to screens, this portal serves as a digital bridge to connect those in need with psychological support.
Project Team
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PROF FIONA HO
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
Supported by
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Knowledge Transfer Fund 2017/18