Hong Kong ranks 7th in mental health study, scoring lower than its Asian neighbours
Economist Intelligence Unit report says city lacks “formal and overarching mental health policy” and is weak in human rights and combating stigma
Hong Kong lagged behind its Asian neighbours in mental health policies, according to a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit which looked at mental health integration in 15 Asian-Pacific territories.
The city’s overall score of 65.8 out of 100 placed it in the seventh spot – a slightly better position than mainland China’s but worse than that of other Asian neighbours including Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea were once known as the “Four Asian Tigers”.
Hong Kong’s lack of support for the mentally ill took the spotlight recently when a 48-year-old mentally disabled man failed to realise his 77-year-old mother had died, accompanying the body for almost a week after her death.
The study, commissioned by pharmaceutical firm Janssen Asia Pacific, compares and ranks the level of effort put in by the 15 territories in implementing mental health policies and whether they have services in place to help mentally ill patients integrate into the community more smoothly.
Its four indicators, which measure mental health integration, include the environment in leading a full life, access to medical help and services, job opportunities, and governance of the system. Hong Kong’s individual scores on those measures ranged from fifth to seventh among a total of 15 territories.