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