Background and Overview

Background and Overview Background and Overview

Research shows that in Hong Kong, approximately 16% of adults experience common mental disorders (CMD), such as depressive and anxiety disorders.(1) Approximately 10% of the population report sleep disturbances, while 30% experience symptoms of insomnia.(2) However, onlt very few people seek professional help, primarily for two reasons. First,  there is a severe shortage of mental health resources in Hong Kong, with only about 4.5 psychiatrists available per 100,000 population.

Patients often need to wait for nearly two years, and each consultation lasts only 5 to 10 minutes.(3) Second, stigmatization still exists, discouraging many from proactively seeking help. This dilemma is not unique to Hong Kong, each year, the loss of productivity due to mental disorders globally amounts to as much as $1 trillion.(4)

To tackle this challenge, we need to explore new solutions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may provide a promising answer. Historically, TCM has demonstrated significant efficacy in treating insomnia and mental disorders, often with fewer side effects compared to conventional psychiatric treatments.

Background and Overview Background and Overview

Supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University has successfully launched the Jockey Club TCM-Driven Mental Wellness Project in collaboration with the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. This project is Hong Kong's first large-scale community outreach initiative specifically utilizing TCM to address common mental disorders. Free traditional Chinese Medicine treatments will be provided to Hong Kong citizens experiencing mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, or insomnia. Comprehensive treatment that integrates TCM and psychotherapy will be provided to participants who do not improve after 6-week TCM teratment. By launching this project, we hope to help Hong Kong citizens regain their inner balance and restore harmony between body and mind.

Reference:

  1. Lam LC, Wong CS, Wang MJ, Chan WC, Chen EY, Ng RM, Hung SF, Cheung EF, Sham PC, Chiu HF, Lam M. Prevalence, psychosocial correlates and service utilization of depressive and anxiety disorders in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS). Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. 2015 Sep;50:1379-88.

  2. Bedford LE, Tang EH, Dong W, Wong CK, Tse ET, Ng AP, Cheung BM, Wu T, Yu EY, Lam CL. Who reports insufficient and disturbed sleep? Results from a representative population-based health survey in Hong Kong. BMJ open. 2022 Sep 1;12(9):e058169.

  3. 立法會秘書處. 「香港的醫療開支」. ISSH03/16-17. 2016年10月24日.

  4. GBD 2019 Mental Disorders Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 1;9(2):137-50.