Press Release

Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project holds international forum to promote integrated development of Chinese medicine and mental wellness services

Monday, 30 March 2026

The “Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project” hosted the “International Forum on Chinese Medicine and Mental Wellness” at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) yesterday (29 March). The event gathered numerous experts and scholars from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas to share their latest clinical research findings, treatment strategies and practical experiences regarding common mental health issues in Hong Kong, including insomnia, anxiety and depression. They also engaged in in-depth discussions on the collaboration and integration of Chinese medicine with modern mental health services to foster cross-sector collaboration.

HKBU launched the three-year “Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project” in July 2023, in collaboration with the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. It is the first large-scale community initiative in Hong Kong focused on Chinese medicine that integrates mental health education and clinical services. The project is supported by a generous donation of HK$78.21 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

A highlighted academic event organised in celebration of the 70th anniversary of HKBU this year, the forum’s discussions focused on three main themes: “Understanding and Integrating Approaches to Depression: Perspectives from TCM and Psychiatry”, “Innovative Treatments for Insomnia: Bridging TCM and Modern Interventions” and “Managing Anxiety and Comorbidities: A Holistic Approach with TCM Modalities”. These topics covered areas such as Chinese medicine and psychotherapy, digital mental health interventions, community self-management and clinical efficacy assessment, representing comprehensive transdisciplinary professional exchange and collaboration.

Officiating guests at the forum included Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Dr Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development, the Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); and Professor Annie Tam Kam-lan, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.

Other officiating guests included Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR and President of the Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association; Mr Thomas Chu Sai-ming, Chief Executive Officer of New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School of HKBU;  Ms Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary of HKBU; Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Associate Vice-President (Clinical Chinese Medicine) of HKBU and Principal Investigator of the Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project; Professor Li Min, Dean of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU; and Professor Sun Feng, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU.

Dr Kennedy Y H Wong said, “Chinese medicine has been passed down for thousands of years, with its core wisdom lying in holistic harmony and individualised treatment. The forum brings together top experts and scholars to engage in in-depth discussions on contemporary mental health issues such as depression, insomnia, and anxiety. I firmly believe that this transdisciplinary and cross-regional dialogue marks a powerful exploration of how Chinese medicine can address today’s mental health challenges, and will broaden the prospects of the mental health field.”

Ms Imelda Chan said, “Since its launch, the Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project has served several thousand members of the public and trained numerous professional practitioners, successfully bringing tangible change and hope to countless families facing difficulties. These initial results have demonstrated the unique and important role that Chinese medicine plays in the prevention and treatment of mental health issues. Looking ahead, the Club will continue to collaborate with various non-governmental organisations to provide medical and healthcare services to the public, and promote Chinese medicine through the programme, with the long-term aim of improving the overall health of the community.”

Dr Vincent Chung Chi-ho said, “The Government’s Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint released by the Government of the HKSAR last December highlights the potential of Chinese medicine in addressing various priority diseases, with mental health identified as one of the key areas for development. The Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project aligns with the Blueprint and serves as both a pioneer and a model in promoting primary healthcare development. By translating scientific evidence into community services to support those in need, the project exemplifies best practices in advancing Chinese medicine as outlined in the Blueprint.”

Professor Annie Tam Kam-lan said, “The Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project has three distinctive features. First, it is a collaboration between medical and social sectors, which the project fully leverages. Second, it adopts a stepped-care model, providing Chinese medicine services in a progressive manner and integrating services from the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. Third, it emphasises participants’ self-management capabilities, as they are responsible for their own well-being. Today’s forum serves as an important platform to promote this project internationally.”

Organised by HKBU, the “Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project” adopts an evidence-based approach to educating the public and provides free Chinese medicine and counselling services, with the aim of establishing an innovative and comprehensive mental health service model for Hong Kong. To date, the project has served nearly 4,000 participants suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression. All participants completed standardised assessments before and after treatment, and underwent clinical evaluation by Chinese medicine practitioners to objectively measure the effectiveness of the service. Results showed significant improvements across all symptom domains: depressive symptoms decreased by approximately 26%, anxiety symptoms by about 22%, and insomnia symptoms by nearly 20%.

The project also provides multi-level and integrative treatment modes tailored to individual needs and offers transdisciplinary training for Chinese medicine practitioners, social workers, mental health ambassadors and Chinese medicine students, enhancing their professional capabilities in a comprehensive manner.

All the services under the project are free of charge. Interested individuals can call 3411 2094 for enquiries or complete the online registration form.

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