Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ17: Cases of depressive illness

Following is a question by the Hon Law Chi-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 11):

Question :

Depressive illness has been determined by the World Health Organization as the leading cause of disability, and roughly 25 per cent of women in the world can expect to develop such illness at some point during their lifetime. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective numbers of persons who were diagnosed as having developed depressive illness in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by the following: gender, age and how their illness was identified;

(b) of the estimated number of persons in Hong Kong who are suffering from depressive illness but have not yet been diagnosed as such;

(c) of the services specially provided for women who are suffering from depressive illness and for preventing such illness among women;

(d) whether it will consider conducting a survey on the situation of depressive illness among the public, especially among women, covering such areas as the number of patients, the problems it brings to the patients, and the implications on the medical services and economy in Hong Kong, and exploring ways for prevention and treatment; and

(e) whether it plans to take measures to enhance the public's knowledge of and ability to identify depressive illness as well as their acceptance of such patients, to strengthen the basic health and support services, and to enable patients to receive treatment at the earliest opportunity?


Reply :

Madam President,

(a) The number of persons who were diagnosed to be suffering from depressive illness and requiring consultation and specialist treatment by the Hospital Authority (HA) in the past three years, with a breakdown by gender and age, are set out in Annex.

Patients with depressive illness are referred to HA for treatment by general practitioners, family medicine practitioners and general outpatient clinics. HA's information system however does not separately capture statistics on how such patients are identified.

(b) A local study conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1986 on the population of Sha Tin showed that a lifetime prevalence of depressive illness for the age group of 18 to 64 was 1.29 per cent for men and 2.44 per cent for women. In view of the limited scope of the study, the findings may not be applicable to the Hong Kong population as a whole. Within the group of patients who meet the diagnostic criteria of depressive disorder, some have only mild and moderate symptoms and can be adequately managed by general and family medicine practitioners in the primary care setting. We therefore do not have estimates of the number of persons in Hong Kong who are suffering from depressive illness but have not yet been diagnosed as such.

(c) General and family medicine practitioners and specialists, both in the public and private sectors, provide services for the early detection and treatment of depression for both men and women. In addition, recognising that post-natal women are more prone to develop depressive illness, both HA and the Department of Health (DH) have taken steps to strengthen these women's ability to cope with their new challenges. HA's ante-natal clinics screen and identify, through the administration of a specially designed questionnaire, women in the post-natal period who have particularly high risk of developing post-natal depression for early diagnosis and treatment. Depending on the severity of the risk, patients so identified will be referred to HA's psychiatric department for further assessment and treatment. Kwai Chung Hospital has initiated a comprehensive peri-natal psychiatric care programme to provide pre-natal and post-natal counselling services to female psychiatric patients.

DH provides promotive and preventive programmes through its Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) to support women. Antenatal health talks on pregnancy, labour and care of newborn babies are delivered to prepare parents-to-be, especially inexperienced young mothers, both physically and psychologically for the new role. DH staff offers individual counselling and assistance through support groups. During ante-natal and post-natal periods, special attention is given to clients who have high risk of developing mood disorders and referral will be made to psychiatrists or welfare agencies, as appropriate. A new parenting programme, introduced in September 2002, aims at equipping parents attending MCHCs with the necessary knowledge and skills to bring up happy and well-adjusted children. The parenting programme enhances parents' competence in promoting physical and mental health of their children and reduces stress related with problems of child care.

(d) A study on depressive illness and its impact on medical services and the economy in Hong Kong is a complex and monumental exercise, requiring inter-sectoral collaborative research. DH is looking into the feasibility of conducting studies such as a population health survey which will provide the information for a better understanding of depressive illness in the community.

(e) HA has in recent years organised extensive mental health promotion programmes to enhance public awareness of common mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. For example, Castle Peak Hospital has, since 1999, implemented a "Defeat Depression" Project to disseminate educational messages on mental health to patients, their carers, and the general public. HA's ante-natal clinics also organises talks on post-natal depression.

DH has trained its healthcare staff to be sensitive and equipped them with clinical knowledge to identify persons with mood disorders and to facilitate early treatment referral. Continued effort is made in building staff capacity in handling mental health conditions. At the population level, public education campaigns such as the annual Mental Health Month promote mental health awareness and acceptance among the population. The theme for this year is "Mental Health in the Family". During the Mental Health Month, government departments, statutory bodies and non-government organisations worked together to mobilise community participation in more than 90 activities ranging from seminars to art competitions and recreational activities. Health educational resources and audiovisual aids, e.g. a video entitled "Post-natal Mood Disorders", are produced to raise public awareness of postnatal depression and its prevention.

Annex to LegCo Q17

END/Wednesday, December 11, 2002
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