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.
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.