Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. There is no health without mental health. Mental health is the fundamental of keeping personal health as well as maintaining function of the society. The WHO issued the “Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020” in 2013. One of the objectives of the Action Plan is to implement strategies for promotion on mental health and prevention of mental disorder.

In order to promote mental health in Hong Kong more effectively, the “Review Committee on Mental Health” (Review Committee), chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, was formed by the Government in May 2013 to review Hong Kong’s mental health policy and to help the Government map out future policy direction. One of the directions came up from the Review Committee after in-depth study is to promote public awareness and understanding of mental health.

The Government announced in “The 2015 Policy Address” to promote the importance of mental health and mental well-being through a territory-wide public education and publicity campaign to be launched by the Department of Health.