Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong

One in seven people suffers from a common mental disorder in Hong Kong. Poverty, gender inequality, domestic abuse, forced marriage, and cultural conflicts complicate the mental health of ethnic minorities (EMs). Language and a lack of cultural understanding from mental health professionals are among the most common hurdles for EMs seeking professional help.

With The Department of Psychiatry of HKU, The Zubin Foundation (TZF) is organising Hong Kong’s first conference on “Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong” on 28 March.

The conference will:

• Launch findings from Randomised Controlled Trial research from The Department of Psychiatry of HKU on the effectiveness of counselling on mood symptoms of EMs in Hong Kong
• Examine the mental health needs of EMs in Hong Kong
• Learn approaches towards EM mental health from the UK from Dinesh Bhugra, an internationally renowned expert on cultural diversity and mental health

Other events organised around Prof Bhugra’s visit:

• Stakeholder engagement session for NGOs to explore how different parties may work together on this topic; and
• Cross Cultural Competency Training for medical and mental health professionals, and other frontline workers on how to better support ethnic minority communities.

Please note that the events are completed. For the event highlights, please click here.

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities Conference 

Date: Tuesday 28 March

Time: 10 am to 12.30 pm

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 2, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam

Medium: English

Target Audience:

•  Government officials
•  Family doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors
•  Management of NGO mental health service providers
•  University students from mental health or medicine-related disciplines
•  Funders interested in mental health
•  Other Individuals who are interested in mental health

Programme Agenda:

Conference Agenda 

Confirmed Speakers:

• Dinesh Bhugra, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
• Faye Chan, Service Supervisor, The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council 
• Eric Chen, Chair Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
• Anju Ghising, Registered Social Worker, Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service
• Anthony Lai, Head of Organisation and Talent Development, Health in Action 
• Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Winnie Ng, Project Director, The Zubin Foundation
• Shilpa Patwardhan, Lead Counsellor, The Zubin Foundation
• Yi-Nam Suen, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong 
• Paul Wong, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong 
• Wong Yan-Lung, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Mental Health

Click here for more information about Speakers.

Stakeholder Engagement: Co-developing Service Model to Support Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities  *FULL* 

(The event is currently full. New registrants will be put on waitlist.)

For NGOs

Date: Tuesday 28 March

Time: 2.30 pm to 5 pm

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 2, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam

Medium: English and Cantonese

Target Audience: 

• Management of NGOs and mental health service providers 

Programme Highlights:

•  Sharing the mental health service model in the UK by Dinesh Bhugra
•  Discussion on how NGOs can work together to provide interventions to EM mental health sufferers

Speaker and Facilitator:

• Dinesh Bhugra, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
• Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Winnie Ng, Project Director, The Zubin Foundation

Click here for more information about Speakers.

Cross Cultural Competency Training *FULL* 

(The event is currently full. New registrants will be put on waitlist.)

Date: Wednesday 29 March

Time: 10 am to 12.30 pm

Venue: Seminar Room 1 (Room 302), Academic Block,  Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam

Medium: English and Cantonese

Target Audience: 

• Family doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors 
• Nurses 
• Social workers 
• Teachers 
• University students from mental health or medicine-related disciplines 

Programme Highlights:

• Training by Dinesh Bhugra on how cultures play a part in mental health service and how practitioners can be more cultural sensitive in clinical settings 
• Insights by Shilpa Patwardhan, Lead Counsellor of The Zubin Foundation Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre on learnings from offering counselling to ethnic minorities with case study discussion

Trainers:

• Dinesh Bhugra, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
• Shilpa Patwardhan, Lead Counsellor, The Zubin Foundation

Click here for more information about Speakers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Strategic Partner and Sponsor:

• Lee Hysan Foundation

Research Fund By:

• Croucher Foundation

In Partnership With:

• Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong 

ENQUIRIES

emwc@zubinfoundation.org | +852 9133 4773