Mental health challenges affect Hong Kongers across all age groups, with about 10% of elderly residents experiencing depressive symptoms and nearly a quarter of children and youth facing at least one mental health issue in the past year. There was a 13% increase in demand for public psychiatric services between 2019/20 and 2023/24, and the median waiting times for new cases at psychiatric specialist outpatient clinics ranges from 21 to 77 weeks in 2024. Community-based solutions have become essential for providing timely and cost-effective support.
As Yonnie got older, depression once meant isolation and despair. After years of struggling, she has found her path forward with the JC JoyAge project. There she learned that mood disorders are similar to any physical health issues—not a sign of personal weakness. Through her involvement in the project, Yonnie deepened her understanding of mental wellness, and transitioned from a beneficiary to a peer supporter, extending compassion and assistance to others in need.
Today, Yonnie actively volunteers in her community, leading outings for older adults and connecting them with various services. During a recent trip, she guided seven elderly residents from Tin Shui Wai to a movie screening in Kowloon Tong. On another occasion, she assisted a senior in locating a pedicure service, and accompanied her to the appointment. These seemingly insignificant gestures carry profound meaning for those feeling isolated and vulnerable.
Inspired by Yonnie, Mico, husband of Yonnie, became both a supportive spouse and an active volunteer, joining her in community service. Through their voluntary work supporting those with emotional distress, the couple has built greater resilience, deepened mutual understanding and enriched their bonding.
Across town, young Cyrus was trying to find ways to deal with his sleeping problems. Along the way, he found a JC LevelMind Hub that gradually helped him feel more at ease. There, he found a safe and comfortable space that did not feel clinical or judgmental.
Similarly, A-Jin found himself overwhelmed by academic pressure. Through a wellness programme, he learned simple breathing exercises to manage stress. Now he has tools to calm himself when things get tough.
These deep and pivotal transformations were driven by their participation in our two key initiatives. The JC JoyAge project, launched in 2016, provides a community-based support network for older adults to enhance their resilience in facing the challenges of ageing. Through early prevention and timely intervention, the service connects District Elderly Community Centres and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness to establish a collaborative stepped-care model to provide preventive service and intervention measures based on cases’ risk levels and their severity of depressive symptoms, etc.
From 2024 onwards, JC JoyAge partners with three District Health Centres/District Health Centre Express to strengthen the provision of mental health support at the primary care level to a wider age group of people aged 45 or above. The project also focuses on enhancing the capacity of professional and non-professional caregivers as well as raising public awareness on mental health. By training young-olds and retirees with lived experience as ambassadors (volunteers with Mental Health First Aid certification) and peer supporters (ambassadors completed advanced mental health training and practicum), the project identifies those in need within the community and renders emotional support. This model fosters community capital and creates a sustainable support network.
To date, over 21,000 at-risk elderly and middle-aged persons have received direct support, with project evaluation showing these community interventions often outperform traditional services. Around 94% of service users who received intervention experienced a significant reduction in depression, anxiety and loneliness. The project has also trained over 900 peer supporters and over 7,000 ambassadors, while helping 250 social workers develop specialised skills and competence to tackle depression.
For young people, the JC LevelMind project uses an integrated “school-community-online” model, establishing 45 youth-friendly JC LevelMind hubs across all 18 districts. Staffed by a multi-disciplinary team, the hubs provide one-stop services for prevention, early intervention and remedial support. Working with The Jockey Club Online Youth Emotional Support program “Open Up”, it ensures seamless, round-the-clock support both online and offline.
The project’s youth-focused approach has reached more than 20,000 young people and trained over 140 social workers. Most importantly, participants show remarkable improvements—JC LevelMind hub users have experienced a 43% reduction in anxiety symptoms and a 32% decrease in stress levels.
By building connections within communities and across generations, these projects are transforming how Hong Kong approaches mental wellness. For thousands like Yonnie, Cyrus, and A-Jin, the message is clear: with the right support, recovery is possible, and no one needs to face mental health challenges alone.
(Bottom) JC LevelMind identifies young people with early mental distress and provides early intervention from a team of professionals at JC LevelMind hubs across Hong Kong.
Did you know?
JC JoyAge has conducted over 2,000 community education activities to boost mental health literacy and raise public awareness of mental health issues affecting elderly and middle-aged persons. Its standardised training materials for social workers and intervention protocols for addressing mental health issues are now used by most NGOs running community mental health and elderly services across Hong Kong.
The JC LevelMind project has expanded its second phase by establishing 45 JC LevelMind Hubs in 18 districts and collaborating with 130 secondary schools to implement student-driven mental wellness initiatives, creating an inclusive and caring culture in educational settings. Together, these complementary programmes form part of a broader strategy to build mental health resilience across Hong Kong society.
Ms Ng: “Knowing that my mother is in good hands gives me the peace of mind to step out and enjoy a brief moment of respite.”