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[Announcement] Supporting the Mental Health of Our Community After the Tai Po Fires

02/12/2025
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Our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastating fires in Tai Po. To everyone affected by this tragedy — the families grieving, those still waiting for news, the first responders and volunteers working around the clock — we’re thinking of you. Whether you know someone affected, live in the area, or are simply processing this tragedy from afar, please know that what you are feeling matters. Sadness, anxiety, anger, and helplessness are all natural responses to something so painful.

 

As a local mental health charity (recognised charitable institution under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (91/16471), Mind HK has mobilised immediately to support our community’s mental health in response to the tragedy. While immediate humanitarian relief is being actively provided by a range of government departments and nonprofits, psychological recovery remains an urgent, essential, and longer‑term need; we’re here to support the mental health of our community, for those directly and indirectly impacted.  

 

Resources: 

If you or someone you know needs support, we have a list of mental health crisis hotlines here: https://www.mind.org.hk/resources/find-help-now/

 

Mind HK Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund:  

Mind HK has established a Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund to ensure that our mental health response efforts are both immediate and sustainable in the long term. Given the urgency of the situation and the constraints on our capacity, all support for this critical response will be directed through this fund. This focused approach will allow us to channel resources effectively and deliver maximum impact for those affected. Contributions of any size are deeply appreciated; funding will enable us to plan and allocate resources effectively. 

 

Mind HK’s 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 11 Dec]

✅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. 

 

For anyone who would like to contribute to our crisis response efforts to support the mental health of our community at this time, we are calling, donation details are available below. 

 

Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund – Donations: 

 

Company donations: If your organisation would like to make a donation to our Tai Po Mental Health Relief fund, please email fundraising@mind.org.hk and carol.liang@mind.org.hk, Deputy CEO. We are happy to share more details or answer any questions you may have. 

 

General Donations: 

    • Give.Asia fundraising page for the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund: https://bit.ly/48GXFUt
    • Online donations/other methods: https://www.mind.org.hk/get-involved/donate/ 
    • FPS: 100479005
    • Bank Transfer: 
      • Bank Name: The Bank of East Asia, Limited
      • Branch Address: No 10 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
      • Account Name: Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited
      • Account Number: 015-514-68051040
      • Swift Code: BEASHKHH

*If you are making a donation and wish it to be allocated to the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund, please ensure you email us at fundraising@mind.org.hk and mark ‘Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund‘ or ‘TPRF‘ in the payment record. 

 

Donation Receipts:
Any donation – big or small – will make a meaningful difference. Donations over HK$100 are tax-deductible with official receipts. If you need a receipt for your donation, please fill in the form here and upload your donation record. We will send you a receipt by email within 14 working days.

 

If you have any queries relating to the donation receipt, please contact us at accounts@mind.org.hk.

 

We’re here to help and appreciate any and all of your support. 

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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.

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.

[Announcement] Supporting the Mental Health of Our Community After the Tai Po Fires

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastating fires in Tai Po. To everyone affected by this tragedy — the families grieving, those still waiting for news, the first responders and volunteers working around the clock — we're thinking of you. Whether you know someone affected, live in the area, or are simply processing this tragedy from afar, please know that what you are feeling matters. Sadness, anxiety, anger, and helplessness are all natural responses to something so painful.

 

As a local mental health charity (recognised charitable institution under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (91/16471), Mind HK has mobilised immediately to support our community's mental health in response to the tragedy. While immediate humanitarian relief is being actively provided by a range of government departments and nonprofits, psychological recovery remains an urgent, essential, and longer‑term need; we’re here to support the mental health of our community, for those directly and indirectly impacted.  

 

Resources: 

If you or someone you know needs support, we have a list of mental health crisis hotlines here: https://www.mind.org.hk/resources/find-help-now/

 

Mind HK Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund:  

Mind HK has established a Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund to ensure that our mental health response efforts are both immediate and sustainable in the long term. Given the urgency of the situation and the constraints on our capacity, all support for this critical response will be directed through this fund. This focused approach will allow us to channel resources effectively and deliver maximum impact for those affected. Contributions of any size are deeply appreciated; funding will enable us to plan and allocate resources effectively. 

 

Mind HK’s 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 11 Dec]

✅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. 

 

For anyone who would like to contribute to our crisis response efforts to support the mental health of our community at this time, we are calling, donation details are available below. 

 

Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund - Donations: 

 

Company donations: If your organisation would like to make a donation to our Tai Po Mental Health Relief fund, please email fundraising@mind.org.hk and carol.liang@mind.org.hk, Deputy CEO. We are happy to share more details or answer any questions you may have. 

 

General Donations: 

    • Give.Asia fundraising page for the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund: https://bit.ly/48GXFUt
    • Online donations/other methods: https://www.mind.org.hk/get-involved/donate/ 
    • FPS: 100479005
    • Bank Transfer: 
      • Bank Name: The Bank of East Asia, Limited
      • Branch Address: No 10 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong
      • Account Name: Mind Mental Health Hong Kong Limited
      • Account Number: 015-514-68051040
      • Swift Code: BEASHKHH

*If you are making a donation and wish it to be allocated to the Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund, please ensure you email us at fundraising@mind.org.hk and mark 'Tai Po Mental Health Relief Fund' or 'TPRF' in the payment record. 

 

Donation Receipts:
Any donation – big or small – will make a meaningful difference. Donations over HK$100 are tax-deductible with official receipts. If you need a receipt for your donation, please fill in the form here and upload your donation record. We will send you a receipt by email within 14 working days.

 

If you have any queries relating to the donation receipt, please contact us at accounts@mind.org.hk.

 

We're here to help and appreciate any and all of your support.