SERVICES FOR EX-MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
[Back to Index] [Halfway House] [Aftercare Service]
1. Halfway House
Introduction
The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong is a Government subsidized social service agency. The main objectives are to promote mental health education in Hong Kong and to provide rehabilitation services for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped persons. One major scope of work of the Association is to operate halfway house for the discharged mental patients. At present, the Association has operated seven ordinary halfway houses and halfway houses with special provision, providing a total of 281 places for the needy residents.
Aim
Through a supportive environment, the service aims to assist discharged mental patents to re-adjust to living in the community and to develop independent living skills.
Objectives
- To provide transitional accommodations for ex-mental patients in the process of their rehabilitation, facilitating their re-integration into the society.
- To help residents to lead a more independent life, by improving their interpersonal relationship, social skills, work habits and self-care ability.
Admission Criteria
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Discharged mental patients aged 15 or above;
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Mentally stable and fit for rehabilitation;
Nature of Service
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Individual Counsellings
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Small Group Trainings
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Community Activities
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Household Trainings
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Home Visits
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Referrals
Scope of Service
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Providing boarding and meal service.
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Developing and strengthening understanding on mental illness.
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Training on daily living skills such as selfcare ability, social and communication skills, domestic skills, group living skills, money management, use of leisure and community resources.
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Improving relationship with relatives.
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Vocational counselling.
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Preparation for discharge for independent living.
Application Procedures
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All applications should be referred by psychiatrists and social workers. Referrals should be sent through the Central Referral System for Rehabilitation Services (CRSRehab) of the Social Welfare Department to the Association.
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After receiving the referral, applicants would be assessed by the Association and a trial stay would be arranged.
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Applicants would be formally admitted after successful trial in the halfway houses.
Exit from Service
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Residents can self withdraw from the service if they find that the halfway house service cannot meet their needs. If necessary, halfway house would assist in making alternative arrangement.
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Service would be terminated if residents are found not adjusting to the life in Halfway house. Halfway house would inform and make suggestions to the concerned psychiatrists and medical social worker to arrange for follow up on the residents.
Fees
Residents are required to pay a monthly fee for lodging and maintenance at the rate set by Social Welfare Department.
Length of Stay
The length of stay is dependent on the need and progress on rehabilitation of individual residents. The length of stay is usually about two years.
Services Units
At present, the Association has operated 7 halfway houses, providing 281 accommodations for discharged mental patients. Service Units are listed as follows:
Unit |
Address |
Capacity/Clientele |
| Choi Wan Hostel | Flat 208-215, Pak Fung Houses, Choi Wan Estate,
Kowloon Tel: 2756 8267 Fax: 2703 0064 E-mail: cwh@mhahk.org.hk |
30/male (Age 15 or above) |
| Hin Kin House | G/F., Wing B, Hin Yau House, Hin Keng Estate,
Shatin, N.T. Tel: 2695 7805 Fax: 2691 2507 E-mail: hkh@mhahk.org.hk |
42/mixed sex (Age 15 or above) |
| Irene House | G/F., Lung Gut House, Lower Wong Tai San Estate,
Kowloon. Tel: 2320 2511 Fax: 2327 8596 E-mail: ireneh@mhahk.org.hk |
42/male (Age 15or above ) |
| Kwong Fuk House | G/F., Wing B Kwong Shung House, Kwong Fuk
Estate, Tai Po, N.T. Tel: 2651 8948 Fax: 2656 9211 E-mail: kfh@mhahk.org.hk |
40/male (Age 15 or above) |
| Lei Cheng Uk House | G/F., Hau Chi House, Lei Cheng Uk Estate, Kowloon Tel: 2725 9232 Fax: 2720 7974 E-mail: lcuh@mhahk.org.hk |
43/male (Age 15 or above) |
| JC Building Half-way house I | 5/F., Jockey Club Building, 2 Kung Lok Road,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon Tel: 2172 6036 Fax: 2172 6219 E-mail: jcbhwh1@mhahk.org.hk |
42/male (Age 15 or above) |
| JC Building Half-way House II | 6/F., Jockey Club Building, 2 Kung Lok Road,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon Tel: 2172 6036 Fax: 2340 5955 E-mail: jcbhwh2@mhahk.org.hk |
42/female (Age 15 or above) |
2. Aftercare Service
Introduction
The mental health association of Hong Kong is a Government subsidized social service agency. The main objectives are to promote mental health education in Hong Kong and to provide rehabilitation services for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped persons. As early as in 1989, the Association has started its prior project of Aftercare Service. At present, the service has been fully subsidized by the Government and provides a total of 100 places for the discharged residents of the seven halfway houses of the Association.
Aim
Through continuous care and support, the Aftercare Service aims to assist the discharged residents of halfway house to adjust to the new living arrangement and to live independently in the community.
Objectives To assist the service users to adjust their life to the
new social and work environment in the community upon their discharge from
halfway house. To facilitate the service users to develop self-care
skills and to fully utilize the community resources in the society so as to
lead a more independent life in the community.
Admission Criteria
Discharged residents who had accomplished their rehabilitation plan in the halfway house of the Association.
Nature of service
The aftercare service adopts an out-reaching service delivery model. Service offered to the service users includes regular visits, individual counselling and group activities.
Scope of service
To assist the service users to prepare for their
discharge from halfway houses. To help the service users to formulate their
rehabilitation plan and to monitor the progress. To provide individual and family counselling. To improve their knowledge of and compliance to the
medical care. To assist them to learn to utilize community resources
and to build up their social support network in the community. To provide assessment on psychiatric emergency and to
provide crisis intervention. To assist in making referral for social services. To organize support groups and therapeutic groups.
Application Procedures
- All applications should be referred by the social workers of the concerned halfway houses.
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After receiving the referral, the aftercare worker would arrange interview with the applicant in the halfway house and assist them to prepare for their discharge plan.
Exit from service
- The service users can self withdraw from the service if they find that the Aftercare Service cannot meet their needs. If necessary, the worker would inform and suggest the concerned psychiatrists and the medical social workers to arrange for follow up on the service users.
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Service would be terminated if the service users are found to be unmotivated and non-compliant to their rehabilitation plans. The worker would inform and suggest the concerned psychiatrists and the medical social workers to arrange for follow up on the service users.
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Upon completion of rehabilitation plan, service users who are mentally stable with sufficient independent living skills would be discharged from the service.
Length of service
The length of service is dependent on the needs and progress of individual service users. Usually, the length of service is about two years.
Fees
Free of charge
Service Unit
There are two Aftercare workers catering 100 ex-mentally ill people of both sex.
One worker is stationed at : Kwun Tong Amity Centre at 4/F., Sai Cho Wan Neighbourhood Community Centre, Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.
Tel: 2346 0124 Fax: 2348 2428
E-mail: acske@mhahk.org.hk
The other worker is stationed at: G/F., Hau Chi House, Lei Cheng Uk Estate, Kowloon
Tel: 2782 3037 Fax: 2720 7974
E-mail: acskw@mhahk.org.hk
