The Chief Executive’s policy address fell on World Mental Health Day. That could have been an opportunity to talk openly about the problems faced by people struggling with their mental well-being, to show compassion. It could also have provided a stage to outline practical policy measures to help alleviate the endemic under provision in our mental health services.
Instead of facing up to her responsibilities, her sole initiative on mental health was to commission a study into stigma, a small scale measure dressed up as a policy. By choosing to stall for time, she has dodged the real issues that affect people’s lives and the accountability of government to provide a framework to care for its people’s mental well-being. There are not enough psychiatrists for the population size, waiting times are too long, there is inadequate support for schools to help young people and liaison between departments and agencies to deliver services is disjointed.
She has accepted the status quo and pushed the hard task of taking real action, developing practical policy solutions that will make a difference to those in need down the road for another year or more. Mental health is clearly not a priority for the Chief Executive. What does this say to the people of Hong Kong?