Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ) Director Tai Wa Hou announced yesterday that two key services established by the Interdepartmental Working Group for Physical and Mental Health aim to build a comprehensive mental health protection network.
The working group held a press conference at the Health Bureau’s conference hall, adjacent to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
The working group is coordinated by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture and comprises the Health Bureau (SSM), the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the Sports Bureau (ID), and the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF).
According to Dr Tai, who is also one of the three deputy directors of the Health Bureau, the working group targets three major difficulties in psychological support cases: “difficulty in case intake, difficulty in resource allocation, and difficulty in service coordination”. The working group has been operating on a trial basis since July this year and has received over 600 cases to date, Dr Tai said, adding that while some cases are still being followed up, the remainder have completed their service. He emphasised that the new measures do not replace existing services, but rather integrate, connect, and optimise them.
Dr Tai also noted that the working group has already provided two key services to help build the network:
• First, the “Hotline for Emotional Support” (2871 2355), which provides 24-hour registration and service triage for all Macau residents without replacing existing help channels;
• Second, the expansion of the former “Community Psychiatric Service Team” into the group’s outreach team, with the addition of personnel from the Education and Youth Development Bureau. Depending on the needs of each case, support from social work, education, and family services is incorporated, and the team proactively enters the community to reach hidden cases. During the trial period, the team conducted nine home visits within two days.
CHCSJ Psychiatry Department Chief Lam Mei Fong noted that the group’s mental health self-assessment tools maintain around 1,000 users per month, while the hotline has recorded nearly 8,000 calls since October last year. Demand for psychological therapy has been rising year-on-year, reflecting initial progress in changing public attitudes, Dr Lam said, adding that the cross-departmental physical and mental health service centre is expected to come into operation in the second quarter of 2027.
Wong Kuok Hou, coordinator of the hotline, said that over its first year of operation, the hotline served about 8,000 people in total. He added that the service volume in the second half of the past year was 9.3 times higher than in the first half, with the online platform accounting for around 70 percent of cases.
The peak period for seeking help was between 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Regarding reasons for seeking assistance, 41.1 percent involved emotional and psychological distress, while 52.9 percent related to general life circumstances, Wong said.
He noted that the hotline has referred 41 cases to offline psychological therapy services subsidised by the Health Bureau, and that preparations are currently under way for a new offline psychological counselling service.
Dr Tai emphasised that the working group will continue to improve its services and strengthen cross-departmental collaboration. Through more professional, considerate, and comprehensive services, the group aims to safeguard the physical and mental health of Macau residents and build a more stable, warmer, and safer community support network, he said.
Health Bureau (SSM) Deputy Director-cum-Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ) Director Tai Wa Hou (centre), Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) Department of Social Solidarity Chief U Ka Wai (second from left), the Education and Youth Development Bureau’s (DSEDJ) Department of Non-tertiary Education Acting Chief U Hon Sang (second from right), CHCSJ Psychiatry Department Chief Lam Mei Fong (left) and Macau Youth Development Service Centre (YDS) Hotline for Emotional Support Coordinator Wong Kuok Hou pose yesterday in front of a health and wellness promotion information board at the SSM’s conference hall adjacent to the public CHCSJ. – Photo: Armindo Neves
