Community psychiatric service in Hong Kong: Moving towards recovery-oriented personalized care

Mental health service in Hong Kong has traditionally been hospital-based. Over the past three decades, community psychiatric service in Hong Kong had been developed into a highly efficient system characterized by high service throughput, with a primary focus on reacting to risk. In 2009, the Government committed substantial resources to increase the manpower and developed a recovery-oriented multidisciplinary case management model with a primary focus on patients with severe mental illness. The implementation of individualized service plans allows the care delivery process to be more focused and person-centered. Collaboration with community care partners has been enhanced to deliver holistic care and maintain a sustainable service Future developments should address both service structure and service content. In service structure, community psychiatric service should be integrated into general adult service for facilitating continuity of care when patients move between inpatient and community settings. To meet the fluctuating needs of patients with severe mental illnesses that run a chronic and relapsing course, the service should have the flexibility to provide different levels of case management within one team. In service content, precise description of service, accompanied by robust quality-assurance mechanism, are mandatory. A wider range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities should be available. Empowerment and self-determination should be realized as the key elements of recovery. Effort is also needed beyond the team level; combating stigma of mental illness in society is an essential component of community psychiatric service.