Services

Tai Po Mental Health Support Project

Tai Po Mental Health Support Project

The Tai Po fire, which occurred in November 2025, deeply affected the community—Wang Fuk Court residents, first responders, loved ones of those affected, and the Hong Kong community. While emergency relief addressed immediate physical and humanitarian needs, long-term psychological recovery remains a critical priority.


In response to the crisis, Mind HK launched the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund to support the recovery and resilience of those impacted. This dedicated fund ensures that all contributions are directed exclusively to our new Tai Po Mental Health Support Project, which includes trauma response, mental health recovery, and community rebuilding across the short, medium, and long term.

200+
Wellbeing Check-ins and outreach sessions conducted for Tai Po residents and frontline staff
235+
Tai Po residents received initial trauma-screening assessments
22
Workshops, community talks, and activities delivered to Tai Po residents and community, reaching 2,800+ individuals

Project Pillars

We are strengthening the community’s recovery through a multi-layered approach:

Clinical Access

Providing free trauma-informed care, from early screening to specialised psychiatric support

Outreach 

Working both offline, including in five transitional housing sites where Wang Fuk Court residents are currently living, and online in the community to promote and support the mental health of those impacted

Community Resilience

Promoting collective healing through trauma awareness workshops and psychoeducation

Sustainable Capacity

Training Hong Kong’s mental health practitioners in advanced trauma-focused care

System Strengthening

Building local evidence and infrastructure to improve Hong Kong’s future crisis response capacity.

A Layered Mental Health Care System

We utilise the International Intervention Pyramid (Intervention Pyramid for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies) to ensure every individual receives the right level of support:

Stage Service Level Target Group Description
1 Community Engagement General Public and Schools Psychoeducation, self-help tools, and coping skills.
2 Screening and Triage Help-seekers Professional wellbeing assessments and trauma screening.
3 Early Intervention Mild Acute Stress Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Recovery (SPR).
4 Moderate Support PTSD Symptoms Evidence-based psychological interventions like Seeking Safety.
5 Specialised Care Victims and First Responders One-on-one, free therapy with psychologists or psychiatrists.

Localisation in Trauma Care: CT-PTSD

In a collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor Anke Ehlers (University of Oxford), Mind HK is adapting the Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) for our local context. We will ensure it is: 

  • Culturally Adapted: Fully translated for Cantonese speakers.
  • Accessible: Therapist-guided treatment available anytime, anywhere.

Psychological Support Services

We are currently providing free, holistic psychological support, interventions, and referrals to the affected individuals of the Tai Po Fire. Our service team consists of clinical psychologists, registered social workers, and Wellbeing Practitioners.

Eligible participants:

  • Residents of Wang Fuk Court
  • Frontline workers and volunteers 
  • Individuals who are experiencing emotional difficulties and/or require psychological support due to the Tai Po Fire

Service details:

  • Wellbeing Check-in: we provide regular online or face-to-face check-ins to understand your current emotional needs, with appropriate follow-up support and interventions
  • Individual or Group Psychological Support: through personalised individual or group sessions, we are here to help you navigate your emotions, strengthen your resilience after a crisis, and support your journey toward psychological recovery
  • Professional Referral Services: if you need further support, we can refer you to affordable and suitable professional services, including meeting with clinical psychologists or psychiatrists, for professional assessment and treatment tailored to your needs

Sign up for the service:

  • You may fill in the registration form here, or contact us via WhatsApp at 6916 4967.
  • Service hours:
    Wed & Fri: 1 – 9 pm
    Tues, Thurs & Sat: 10 am – 6 pm
  • Address: Room 03 (C), 11/F, Tai Po Commercial Centre, Tai Po

Progress Updates

Crisis Response Efforts: 

✅ Organise a dedicated crisis support team of 17 staff – clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, social workers, and Mind HK Wellbeing Practitioners. They were on the ground in community shelters and mortuaries in the immediate aftermath of the crisis, providing face-to-face psychological support to affected residents. 

✅Coordinate and offer probono grief and PTSD psychological support to 30+ individuals impacted by the fire, with the kind support of a group of Central Health Medical Practice therapists 

✅ Mobilise and upskill trained Mind HK Wellbeing Practitioners and refer to other clinical professionals equipped to expand the provision of  free psychological support online and offline in the community 

✅ Coordinate subsidised psychological care to targeted groups, including front-line responders and professionals with limited access to care (e.g.  journalists and NGO professionals)

✅ Offer trainings/workshops on mental health topics relevant to the crisis response, including trauma-informed training 

✅ Expand our evidence-based trauma work and PTSD interventions for long-term, sustainable community support 

✅ Share content online, e.g.  on acute stress, psychological first aid, grounding exercises, community care, and other self-care tips, to support the mental health of our community.

[New updates on 28 Feb 2026]

✅ The team has established an office and counselling rooms at Tai Po Commercial Centre. For details, please visit the  “Tai Po Mental Health Support Project” dedicated page on our website.
✅ The team has visited over 100 households of affected individuals who have been arranged to move into transitional housing, assessed their real needs, and provided psychological support at varying levels of intensity.
✅ In partnership with seven transitional housing operators and other social welfare partners, the team co-organised a series of Lunar New Year activities to deliver warmth and care to those affected.
✅ The team provided professional trauma care training for mental health practitioners and conducted educational workshops for frontline staff in transitional housing.
✅ The team continues to conduct outreach services and set up information booths in the Tai Po District, offering immediate mental health consultation and support.

[New updates on 11 Dec 2025]

✅Mind HK team visited five transitional housing sites in Tai Po and Sheung Shui and gained a better understanding of the needs of the individuals affected by the fire. Our visits revealed an urgent need for more information about the mental health status faced by those displaced. 

✅Together with partner organisations running transitional housing, we will carry out systematic outreach efforts using a trauma-informed approach—through shared meal times, door-to-door engagement, and handwritten messages of care delivered to every household — to offer relevant information resources and direct services. 

✅We will start supporting residents displaced by offering psychological support services and mental health resources directly in transitional housing blocks. 

What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggles.

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

To ensure our services remain sustainable and accessible to all, we utilise a sliding scale fee model based on household income starting 1 June 2026. Sessions range from free of charge to HK$ 150 – HK$ 300, as detailed in the table below.
By contributing what you can, you directly support the longevity of our iACT services. These fees sustain Mind HK’s vital work, ensuring our support remains available for those who need it most. Furthermore, your contribution fuels our broader mission, including school-based programmes, mental health training, and essential awareness campaigns across the city.
Monthly Household Income Fee Per Session
≤ HK$ 20,000 Free
HK$ 20,001 – HK$ 40,000 HK$ 150
>HK$ 40,000 HK$ 300
*To ensure fairness and the proper allocation of resources, we conduct occasional random checks to verify that assigned fee levels remain aligned with our users’ current financial circumstances.
**You may also choose to receive services provided by a Trainee Wellbeing Practitioner or an Alumni Wellbeing Practitioner. The fees will be waived, and the wait time may be longer.

All payments made are non-refundable. If you are facing special circumstances, please let us know. We may consider a refund on a case-by-case basis depending on your specific situation.

Yes. In addition to income-based waivers, you may choose to receive support from a Trainee Wellbeing Practitioner or an Alumni Wellbeing Practitioner volunteer. In these instances, fees are waived, though wait times may be longer.

You may reschedule your appointment up to two times during your service period. Please note that all changes must be made at least two working days prior to your scheduled session.

Yes, you may choose to discontinue the service at any time.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

Tai Po Mental Health Support Project

Tai Po Mental Health Support Project

Project Model


Psychological Support


Progress Updates

The Tai Po fire, which occurred in November 2025, deeply affected the community—Wang Fuk Court residents, first responders, loved ones of those affected, and the Hong Kong community. While emergency relief addressed immediate physical and humanitarian needs, long-term psychological recovery remains a critical priority.

In response to the crisis, Mind HK launched the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund to support the recovery and resilience of those impacted. This dedicated fund ensures that all contributions are directed exclusively to our new Tai Po Mental Health Support Project, which includes trauma response, mental health recovery, and community rebuilding across the short, medium, and long term.

200+
Wellbeing Check-ins and outreach sessions conducted for Tai Po residents and frontline staff
235+
Tai Po residents received initial trauma-screening assessments
22
Workshops, community talks, and activities delivered to Tai Po residents and community, reaching 2,800+ individuals

Project Pillars

We are strengthening the community’s recovery through a multi-layered approach:

Clinical Access

Providing free trauma-informed care, from early screening to specialised psychiatric support

Outreach 

Working both offline, including in five transitional housing sites where Wang Fuk Court residents are currently living, and online in the community to promote and support the mental health of those impacted

Community Resilience

Promoting collective healing through trauma awareness workshops and psychoeducation

Sustainable Capacity

Training Hong Kong’s mental health practitioners in advanced trauma-focused care

System Strengthening

Building local evidence and infrastructure to improve Hong Kong’s future crisis response capacity.

A Layered Mental Health Care System

We utilise the International Intervention Pyramid (Intervention Pyramid for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies) to ensure every individual receives the right level of support:

Stage Service Level Target Group Description
1 Community Engagement General Public and Schools Psychoeducation, self-help tools, and coping skills.
2 Screening and Triage Help-seekers Professional wellbeing assessments and trauma screening.
3 Early Intervention Mild Acute Stress Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Recovery (SPR).
4 Moderate Support PTSD Symptoms Evidence-based psychological interventions like Seeking Safety.
5 Specialised Care Victims and First Responders One-on-one, free therapy with psychologists or psychiatrists.

Localisation in Trauma Care: CT-PTSD

In a collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor Anke Ehlers (University of Oxford), Mind HK is adapting the Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) for our local context. We will ensure it is: 

  • Culturally Adapted: Fully translated for Cantonese speakers.
  • Accessible: Therapist-guided treatment available anytime, anywhere.

Psychological Support Services

We are currently providing free, holistic psychological support, interventions, and referrals to the affected individuals of the Tai Po Fire. Our service team consists of clinical psychologists, registered social workers, and Wellbeing Practitioners.

Eligible participants:

  • Residents of Wang Fuk Court
  • Frontline workers and volunteers 
  • Individuals who are experiencing emotional difficulties and/or require psychological support due to the Tai Po Fire

Service details:

  • Wellbeing Check-in: we provide regular online or face-to-face check-ins to understand your current emotional needs, with appropriate follow-up support and interventions
  • Individual or Group Psychological Support: through personalised individual or group sessions, we are here to help you navigate your emotions, strengthen your resilience after a crisis, and support your journey toward psychological recovery
  • Professional Referral Services: if you need further support, we can refer you to affordable and suitable professional services, including meeting with clinical psychologists or psychiatrists, for professional assessment and treatment tailored to your needs

Sign up for the service:

  • You may fill in the registration form here, or contact us via WhatsApp at 6916 4967.
  • Service hours:
    Wed & Fri: 1 - 9 pm
    Tues, Thurs & Sat: 10 am - 6 pm
  • Address: Room 03 (C), 11/F, Tai Po Commercial Centre, Tai Po

Progress Updates

Crisis Response Efforts: 

✅ Organise a dedicated crisis support team of 17 staff – clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, social workers, and Mind HK Wellbeing Practitioners. They were on the ground in community shelters and mortuaries in the immediate aftermath of the crisis, providing face-to-face psychological support to affected residents. 

✅Coordinate and offer probono grief and PTSD psychological support to 30+ individuals impacted by the fire, with the kind support of a group of Central Health Medical Practice therapists 

✅ Mobilise and upskill trained Mind HK Wellbeing Practitioners and refer to other clinical professionals equipped to expand the provision of  free psychological support online and offline in the community 

✅ Coordinate subsidised psychological care to targeted groups, including front-line responders and professionals with limited access to care (e.g.  journalists and NGO professionals)

✅ Offer trainings/workshops on mental health topics relevant to the crisis response, including trauma-informed training 

✅ Expand our evidence-based trauma work and PTSD interventions for long-term, sustainable community support 

✅ Share content online, e.g.  on acute stress, psychological first aid, grounding exercises, community care, and other self-care tips, to support the mental health of our community.

[New updates on 28 Feb 2026]

✅ The team has established an office and counselling rooms at Tai Po Commercial Centre. For details, please visit the  “Tai Po Mental Health Support Project” dedicated page on our website.
✅ The team has visited over 100 households of affected individuals who have been arranged to move into transitional housing, assessed their real needs, and provided psychological support at varying levels of intensity.
✅ In partnership with seven transitional housing operators and other social welfare partners, the team co-organised a series of Lunar New Year activities to deliver warmth and care to those affected.
✅ The team provided professional trauma care training for mental health practitioners and conducted educational workshops for frontline staff in transitional housing.
✅ The team continues to conduct outreach services and set up information booths in the Tai Po District, offering immediate mental health consultation and support.

[New updates on 11 Dec 2025]

✅Mind HK team visited five transitional housing sites in Tai Po and Sheung Shui and gained a better understanding of the needs of the individuals affected by the fire. Our visits revealed an urgent need for more information about the mental health status faced by those displaced. 

✅Together with partner organisations running transitional housing, we will carry out systematic outreach efforts using a trauma-informed approach—through shared meal times, door-to-door engagement, and handwritten messages of care delivered to every household — to offer relevant information resources and direct services. 

✅We will start supporting residents displaced by offering psychological support services and mental health resources directly in transitional housing blocks.