Supporting People In Recovery of Mental Illness in the Community by Services from Recovery to Well-being

Established in 1965, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association is a leading non-governmental organization specializing in mental health serving around 15,000 people in recovery (PIR) of mental illness and their families, as well as 43,000 general public in mental health education annually by 70 service units/ projects and over 20 social enterprises. Our Association pioneered the first Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW), The Wellness Centre (TWC) at Tin Shui Wai in 2009. From October 2010 onwards, service points extended to Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, Sha Tin, Kwai Chung, Tuen Mun and Islands Districts. In 2015, our Association moved forward from recovery-oriented service to promote well-being for all. We integrate 330 (physical, psychosocial and transcendental well-being) into daily life.

Three-tier service model ranging from primary (community well-being and public education); secondary (early identification and intervention); to tertiary intervention (person-centered services) is adopted in The Wellness Centres (TWCs). Selected highlights at each level would be shared. At the primary level, TWCs promote well-being to the public on understanding of mental health; advocating for anti-stigma and collaborating with district partners to build an inclusive society by organizing exhibitions, talks and activities in the community. “330@ New So Uk Estate”, a three-year project funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF), was launched in 2016 to enhance the community well-being, facilitate the accumulation of social capital and provide neighborhood support to residents of the re-developed So Uk Estate. At the secondary level, TWCs worked closely with the Hospital Authority, Social Welfare Department and community partners to provide proactive, comprehensive and intensive casework support services to people suspected of having mental health problems. Last but not least, at the tertiary level, our professional staff team, consisting of clinical psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and psychiatric nurses, provides casework counselling and outreaching home visits, helping PIR and their family members to cope with their mental health and life challenges, actualizing self-directive in their journey of recovery and leading to a fulfilling life in the community.