Where to find mental health resources in Hong Kong

Regardless of the age, living in Hong Kong can be stressful and overwhelming. On top of the hectic lifestyle, our world today considers being busy a virtue and a sign of success and mental health and wellbeing are far from our priorities.

With all that is happening around us, be it social events, a pandemic or personal struggles, it is normal to feel dispirited or have anxious thoughts. If you need someone to listen to your thoughts, to give you a third-person’s opinion or anything else, we’ve put together a list of some mental health resources in Hong Kong.

Read more: Hong Kong government launches Shall We Talk mental health initiative

In time of crisis or personal struggles, sharing your thoughts with another person can help you feel better. If you or someone you know is suffering from mental distress but is not an emergency, ring one of the hotlines, reach out to professional counsellors or find support online. For immediate attention, please call 999 or approach the nearest A&E department.

Editor’s note: This article is intended as a helpful guide for those seeking mental health support and is not an exhausting list of all resources that are available. If you know of any hotlines, counselling services or online support that you think we should include, email digital@hongkongliving.com to get in touch.

Hotlines

The Samaritans

The Samaritans is a non-profit and non-religious organisation which offers emotional support to those in general distress or have thoughts about harming themselves. Operated by well-trained volunteers, its hotline provides 24 hours multilingual suicide prevention service. To ensure confidentiality, no calling number is displayed on the centre’s telephones.

Phone number: 2896 0000
Service: Suicide prevention
Service hours: 24 hours
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Tagalog, Urdu, French, German, Spanish, Hindi, Malay, Panjabi

The Samaritans Befrienders Hong Kong

There is always someone out there who is more than willing to listen to your emotions and care for your needs. The Samaritans Befrienders Hong Kong is a group of passionate volunteers who understands what it means to provide emotional aid when you are in need. The hotline is available whenever anytime and help is just one call away.

Phone number: 2389 2222 for Cantonese and 2389 2223 for English
Service: Emotional support and suicide prevention
Service hours: 24 hours for Cantonese, 6:30-10pm weekdays (excluding public holidays) for English
Language: Cantonese and English

Suicide Prevention Services

It takes courage to reach out for help, and for over two decades, professionally-trained volunteers at Suicide Prevention Services have been patiently listening to their callers. All judgements aside, listeners on the other side of the line are here for those who want their feelings to be understood. Extending its care to distressed elders, the centre is also dedicated to preventing elderly suicide in Hong Kong.

Phone number: 2382 0000
Service: Suicide prevention
Service hours: 24 hours
Language: Cantonese only

Caritas Family Crisis Support

It can be easy to get overwhelmed by what’s happening around us, hearing a third person’s perspective may help us look at things differently. At Caritas Family Crisis Support, all-rounded service is provided for those who are suffering from emotional disturbance due to family issues or personal struggles. From a 24-hour hotline to counselling and temporary boarding, the services are all supported by registered social workers.

Phone number: 18288
Service: Family crisis and general emotional support
Service hours: 24 hours
Language: Cantonese, English and Mandarin

Counselling services

Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness

Under the Social Welfare Department, Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) is a district-based, one-stop community support you can reach out to. With outlets at 19 districts across Hong Kong, the centres offer drop-in services, counselling, therapies and more for free. After assessing your needs, the ICCMW can also refer you to neighbourhood psychological clinics or non-governmental organisations like Caritas Hong Kong for more detail follow-ups. Contact its 24-hour hotline for immediate assistance or to arrange a meeting.

Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness, multiple locations across all districts, 2343 2255

ReSource Counselling Centre

ReSource offers confidential counselling and professional mental health services. From grief counselling to family group therapy, it is here to empower help-seekers in alleviating their stress and struggles they are going through. With multiple languages available, its counselling service charges are also adjustable according to a sliding scale. If you feeling like you’re having a bump in life, big or tiny, it is always better not to accumulate stress and talk it out with experienced and sympathetic counsellors.

ReSource Counselling Centre, 23/F, Li Dong Building, 9 Li Yuen Street East, Central, 2523 8979

St. John’s Cathedral Counselling Service

As the largest and oldest mental health NGO in Hong Kong, St. John’s Cathedral Counselling Service has a strong team of counsellors, therapists, social workers and psychologists. Providing affordable, professional and multi-culturally sensitive counselling, the centre offers sessions in various languages, aiming to fully understand individual needs and give each person ample time and opportunity to recover. It caters for a wide range of issues, from personal and relationship counselling to guidance on mood and anxiety disorders.

St. John’s Cathedral Counselling Service, 7/F, Wings Building, 110-116 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2525 7207 or 2525 7208

Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation

Founded by a recoverer from depression and anxiety, Joyful Foundation understands the needs of those who are mentally stressed. Aiming to provide suitable help and treatment as early as possible, the centre is led by a group of professional clinical psychologists and counsellors, at the ready to listen to your voice. Whether you’re having difficulties coping with life and work, or just want someone to lift the burden off your shoulders, drop by the centre or dial its 24-hour hotline for inquiry.

Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation, Unit 1001-1003, 10/F, New Treasure Centre, 10 Ng Fong Street, San Po Kong, 2301 2303

Online support

Open Up

Supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Open Up is the first round-the-clock counselling platform in Hong Kong. Targeting people aged between 11 and 35, its counselling service is available in both Cantonese and English. Sometimes it feels easier to write down your thoughts and worries than talking out loud. With a big team of volunteers and counsellors, the platform is available via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram and SMS, with responder always on the other side of the line ready for you.

SMS or WhatsApp: 9102 2102
Service hours: 24 hours
Language: Cantonese and English

Chatpoint

Chatpoint is an online chatroom for those who are in mental distress or have suicidal thoughts. The platform is one of the operations under The Samaritans Befrienders Hong Kong. A one-off emotional support platform, conversations and identity of help-seekers are kept confidential. If there is something you want to get off of your chest, just send a message through its website to approach patient volunteers and well-trained counsellors.

24-hour hotline: 2389 2222
Service hours: 6am-1am on weekdays, 8pm-1am on weekends and public holidays
Language: Cantonese

Talkspace

It may not always be convenient to make a phone call, but you can’t pause your emotions. Talkspace offers unlimited messaging service to skilled professionals that offer counselling, emotional support and therapy. In light of the pandemic, the platform has been receiving more responses lately. It is normal to feel stressed-out and concerned about uncertainties, so talk it out with a personal therapist on Talkspace to share your feelings and get instant gratification. On top of text support, services also include virtual appointments, from couples therapy to assistance targeting teenagers.

BetterHelp

Based in the US, BetterHelp is an online platform that offers access to licensed, trained, experienced and accredited counsellors and psychologists. Going out these days may not be as inconvenient and safe, and the online therapy service allows help-seekers to get emotional support right on their couch. With all kinds of news flowing in everyday, negativity and stress can easily pile up. If you feel like you need someone to talk to, virtual appointments can also be made with therapists through BetterHelp to get you assistance as soon as possible.