YWP Programme

Youth Wellbeing Practitioner (YWP) Programme

 

In 2021, Mind HK and MINDSET launched a new mental health pilot project – the Youth Wellbeing Practitioner (YWP) Programme.

In Hong Kong, those who require mental health support are often faced with a dilemma; either they are met with long waiting times at public hospitals, or they are forced to seek private treatment which can come at a high cost. At present, the waiting time for the intake of new cases at the psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics (PSY SOPCs), ranges from 14 to 64 weeks for stable cases (HA, 2022).

Mind HK believes that by increasing the support capacity in Hong Kong and adopting an early intervention approach, we can make a positive difference to the mental health landscape, and reduce the existing strain on healthcare services. 

Based on a model similar to the UK’s Children and Young People’s Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP-IAPT) initiative, this project aims to bridge the gap in mental health services in Hong Kong, and increase access to mental health support for youth (aged 12-24) in Hong Kong. This is achieved by training practitioners to deliver free, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based, low-intensity, manualised and guided self-help interventions.

So far, we trained 50 practitioners in June – July 2022. On completion of their theoretical training, these practitioners have been placed in host organisations in community settings to deliver free support  to youth facing mild to moderate mental health problems in need till July 2023. 

 

How It Works

 

 

Mind HK YWP Online Services 

From December 2022 to April 2023 youths aged 18-24 can sign up to receive YWP’s support remotely for free. By offering online mental health services, Mind HK aims to further increase the accessibility of support for youth experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems or emotional distress. 

Click here to learn more about Mind HK’s YWP services.

 

Future opportunities

The YWP programme is part of Mind HK’s Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT) initiative, and is the start of Mind HK’s wellbeing practitioner series.

The next pilot programme that has been launched is the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) programme, which offers a similar intervention model but specifically targets adults. Applications for this programme close on 6 January 2023. For more information, please click here.

 

 

Thank you to all organisations who are hosting our YWPs as part of our pilot programme: 

 

Host organisations (2022 - 2023)

Mind HK (online services)

Baptist Oi Kwan Social Services

Bishop Hall Jubilee Secondary School

Breakthrough

Caritas Ma On Shan Secondary School

Central Health CDT

Delia Group School (Broadway)

Delia Group School (Glee Path)

Delia School of Canada

DMHC Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School

ESF Island School

ESF Sha Tin College

ESF South Island School

ESF West Island School

Harrow International School

HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College

 

 

 

Hong Kong Baptist University

Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

ISF Academy

Joyful Mental Health Foundation

Kowloon Technical School

Li Po Chun United World College

MKMCF Ma Chan Duen Hey Memorial College

Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit Sing (1983) College

SKH Lam Woo Memorial School

Society for Community Organization

St John’s Cathedral Counselling Services

Victoria Shanghai Academy

Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School

YMCA of Hong Kong

Yuen Long Town Hall