Mentally ill in Hong Kong need more government support
Wong Kwong-lui says overworked and underfunded psychiatric services are an injustice to the often-marginalised mentally ill, and calls for greater support from both the government and society at large
Hong Kong currently has 200,000 people suffering from severe mental illnesses, of whom 48,000 have schizophrenia. While the Hospital Authority provides support for those deemed not stable, the case manager to patient ratio is very high. In 2015/2016, there were only 327 case managers for some 15,400 patients, a ratio of 1 to 50. In clusters with more serious staff shortages, the ratio goes up to one per 60 or even 70 patients.
MTR firebomb attack throws spotlight on mental health care
Hong Kong ranks 7th in mental health study, scoring lower than its Asian neighbours
It is unrealistic to expect that the number of case managers and related medical staff can be substantially increased within a short time, given that the services required involve specialist training. But the government can improve the situation in the short term by providing new kinds of treatment.
At present, most patients with schizophrenia rely on oral medication to keep their condition under control. However, they often fail to take it regularly, which makes them prone to relapse.
Although there is now a variety of newer generation long-acting antipsychotics to be administered by injection, high costs mean most patients are denied this markedly more effective treatment. If the government could increase spending on more advanced treatments, it would ease the strain on medical staff from treating relapsed patients, and ultimately benefit the overall public health system.
Why Hong Kong’s Nimby attitude is a threat to mental health
Wong Kwong-lui is a psychiatric nurse and a board member of the Hong Kong Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation