JC JoyAge

A recent study has suggested that around 10% of Hong Kong’s elderly population have depressive symptoms. Factors such as stress, health problems, and a lack of social activities usually contribute to their vulnerability, resulting in higher risks of depression, anxiety and other major illnesses. Depression has also been one of the major causes of deaths by suicide in the city. The suicide rate of older adults aged 60 or above is currently the highest among all age groups, which is at 19.4 per 100,000 people. Based on a local study, older people with depressive symptoms are 2.2 times more at-risk of suicidal death than those without.  

In response, the JC JoyAge project was launched in 2016, aiming to tackle depression among the elderly, enhance the skillsets of professional and non-professional caregivers, as well as raise public awareness on elderly mental health.

Through cross-sectoral collaboration, we provide a community support network for older adults to help them stay resilient as they age. The service connects District Elderly Community Centres and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness to establish a collaborative and integrated model to rend standardised prevention and timely intervention services to those with depression and depressive symptoms. Young-old people and retirees who have had similar life experiences as depressed elders in their neighbourhood are also recruited and trained as “Peer Supporters”. They assist social workers to conduct outreach and engagement activities for older adults who are at-risk or depressed.

In response to changing mental health needs, from 2024 onwards, we partnered with Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre, Southern District Health Centre and Sai Kung District Health Centre Express to strengthen social-medical collaboration in the community, providing more holistic mental health support at the primary care level to a wider group of people aged 45 or above, helping to build a healthier community for all.