Press Release
HKBU launches Jockey Club Traditional Chinese Medicine-driven Mental Wellness Project
Monday, 9 December 2024
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has received a generous donation of HK$70.95 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the three-year “Jockey Club Traditional Chinese Medicine-driven Mental Wellness Project”. Led by HKBU in partnership with the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NLPRA), this is the first large-scale Chinese medicine mental health community project supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
The project aims to address the worrying prevalence of common mental health issues in Hong Kong, as well as enhance public awareness and improve mental wellness through education and evidence-based Chinese medicine services. Ultimately, it intends to establish localised Chinese medicine treatment protocols for common mental disorders.
Free Chinese medicine will be provided to 5,000 participants suffering from common mental health issues, such as insomnia, anxiety and depression. Counselling will also be available for participants in need. The project will provide transdisciplinary training to 100 Chinese medicine practitioners and social workers to strengthen their competence in supporting the individuals with common mental disorders. 150 ambassadors and 100 Chinese medicine students will also be trained to enhance their knowledge in this area.
The launch ceremony for the project was held today (9 December) on HKBU campus. The officiating guests included Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, the HKSAR Government; Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; and Healthy Community), The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Dr Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the Health Bureau, the HKSAR Government; Dr Edmund Fong Ho-ching, Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), the HKSAR Government; and Ms Rowena Wong How-wan, Chief Manager (Chinese Medicine), the Hospital Authority.
Representatives from the project organisers included Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Professor Martin Wong Ding-fat, Provost of HKBU; Mr Tommy Y S Li and Dr Wong Hung-ngan, members of the Advisory Committee of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, and Professor Annie Tam Kam-lan, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of NLPRA.
In his welcoming speech, Professor Martin Wong Ding-fat said, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their generous donation, and to NLPRA for their support, which has enabled the launch of the ‘Jockey Club Traditional Chinese Medicine-driven Mental Wellness Project’. HKBU is a forerunner in Chinese medicine teaching, research and service in Hong Kong. Under the project, a team of experts from the School of Chinese Medicine utilises their professional knowledge to provide Chinese medicine services to people suffering from mental distress, with the aim of improving their mental health and developing treatment protocols that promote the standardisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine, thereby benefiting more people.”
Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han said: "For more than a decade, the Government has provided a substantial amount of social welfare support to assist people suffering from mental distress. The ‘Jockey Club Traditional Chinese Medicine-driven Mental Wellness Project’, launched by HKBU with funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and in collaboration with NLPRA, marks an excellent start in strengthening such support with the help of Chinese medicine." He hopes that the project can provide early intervention and treatment for those in need to facilitate early recovery. He also expects that upon completion of the project, its outcomes can help society tackle mental health challenges.
Ms Imelda Chan said, “Building a healthy community is one of the priority areas of the Jockey Club's charity strategy, and improving the mental well-being of the public is an essential pillar. This project aims to provide personalised traditional Chinese medicine-driven treatment for individuals experiencing mental distress while incorporating suitable psychotherapies based on their mental health condition and psychological needs. The evidence-based treatment plan established is expected to provide statistics and support for the Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres across Hong Kong’s 18 districts, as well as for the soon-to-be-completed Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, serving as an important reference for delivering mental health services through traditional Chinese medicine at the primary healthcare level.
Professor Annie Tam Kam-lan said, “This project enables NLPRA to collaborate with HKBU, illustrating the integration of 'Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments' and 'counselling services' to support individuals experiencing mild to moderate insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and to enhance their mental wellness and foster holistic well-being.”
Started in July 2023, the project targets individuals aged between 18 and 65 with mild-to-moderate insomnia, anxiety and depression. HKBU’s Chinese medicine practitioners will provide consultations and prescribe herbal tisanes or Chinese herbal formulae to participants based on the severity of their symptoms for a duration of six weeks.
If participants with moderate symptoms do not see improvement after receiving treatment, HKBU’s Chinese medicine practitioners will work with the registered social workers or counsellors from NLPRA to provide follow-up counselling services.
The project has served more than 800 participants to date. Participants were invited to complete both self-reported questionnaires and clinical assessment by Chinese medicine practitioners before and after using the service. They reported significant improvements in their sleep quality and mental health conditions.
The services offered by the project is free of charge. Those who are interested in participating and have enquiries can call 3411 2094, or register online.
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