Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ10: Mental health problems
Following is a question by the Hon Ng Leung-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):
Question :
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has conducted any investigation and survey in respect of members of the public who suffer from mental health problems due to unemployment; if it has, of the investigation results; and the number, age, sex, former occupation and duration of unemployment etc. of those persons who committed suicide in the past year due to the above problems; and
(b) of the measures in place to provide mental health counselling for people with such problems and assistance targeted at helping them find employment?
Reply :
(a)The onset of mental health problems is caused by many factors, including epidemiological, socio-cultural, economic and personal factors. Unemployment is only one of the many interacting factors that may predispose/precipitate a person to develop mental health problems.
There is no dedicated investigation on "unemployment as a cause of mental health problems and suicide". However, from 710 internal reports received from frontline workers on suicide deaths in 2002, 39 reports indicated "unemployment/ underemployment" as one of the possible triggering factors for suicide. Twenty four out of the 39 also indicated "mental health problems" as another possible triggering factor for suicide. However, there was no known causal relationship between the two triggering factors themselves. A breakdown is as follows -
By employment status (at the time of the incident)
Unemployed
32
Not unemployed:
7
(a) in employment (including
underemployment)
(b) not seeking active
employment (e.g. retirees,
housewives)
By gender
Male
30
Female
9
By age
Below 20
1
20 - 29
12
30 - 39
11
40 - 49
6
50 - 59
6
60 and above 3
By duration of unemployment
less than 1 month
2
1 month to less than 3 months 7
3 months to less than 6 months 2
6 months to less than 1 year
8
1 year to less than 2 years
3
2 years to less than 4 years
3
More than 4 years
2
Unknown or inapplicable
12
(e.g. in employment)
(b) For individuals with mental health problems, the Hospital Authority (HA) provides pharmaco-therapy, counselling and psychological intervention to patients who seek consultation at its hospitals or clinics. Group and individual training in pre-vocational skills, job-seeking skills, work habit training, counselling for patients who have returned to work etc. are also organised as part of the treatment and rehabilitation programme. In addition, HA works closely with non-governmental organisations and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) on the referral of patients seeking open or supported employment.
The Department of Health operates an out-patient service to provide counselling to emotionally unstable patients, including patients whose problems have been caused by unemployment, and refers them to specialist clinics or community service providers for follow-up treatment when necessary.
SWD provides comprehensive welfare services to assist individuals and families, including those who are in distress and facing unemployment, to cope with their problems through provision of counselling and employment assistance. These services are provided through medical social service units stationed in public hospitals and in the 66 Family Service Centres/Integrated Family Service Centres. Together, these form an extensive network in providing counselling and tangible services to help patients/people in financial crisis tackle their personal and family problems. Social workers provide these patients/people with counselling and/or group activities to enhance their stress-coping skills and work out positive ways to help resolve their unemployment problems. Referrals for financial assistance and other support services are made according to their needs. All cases with suicidal inclination or an actual suicide attempt are referred by the social workers to SWD's clinical psychologists for assessment and treatment.
In November 2001, SWD commissioned Caritas-Hong Kong to set up a Family Crisis Support Centre to provide services and facilities for individuals and families under extreme stress. Its services include a 24-hour hotline, outreach and prompt intervention service, short-term overnight accommodation, groups and programmes and public education programmes, etc. Furthermore, a grant of $10.6 million from the Lotteries Fund has been allocated to The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK) to operate on a pilot basis, a Suicide Crisis Intervention Centre (SCIC) for three years. The SCIC commenced full operation in September 2002 and provides a round-the-clock outreach service and crisis intervention/intensive counselling to persons in crisis and with suicidal tendencies. Also, with funding of $5.15 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the SBHK has set up a Life Education Centre since May 2002.
The Employment Services Division of the Labour Department (LD) assists able-bodied job seekers to seek jobs through a range of comprehensive employment counselling and referral services. The Division promotes positive attitude and self-confidence among the unemployed through publications and the digital display system in its 11 job centres. Hotlines on the relevant counselling services provided by SWD and non-governmental organizations are also listed out to assist the unemployed to obtain professional advice when necessary.
Apart from the employment services open to all job seekers, the Selective Placement Division of LD provides an employment service for people with a disability including, those with mental health problems. To help job seekers find jobs and sustain employment, placement officers provide them with vocational guidance, job assessment and the latest information about the job market; conduct job matching and refer them to employers for job interviews; and provide them with a follow-up service for at least three months, following placement into employment.
End/Wednesday, July 9, 2003
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