SLW visits Tsuen Wan District (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited Tsuen Wan District today (November 3) to meet with members of the Tsuen Wan District Council to gain an overview of the district and learn about concerns of community members. Dr Law also visited a facility that provides mental health support services and rehabilitation services in the district.
 
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Miss Jenny Yip, Dr Law first met with members of the Tsuen Wan District Council in order to have a better grasp of the overall development of the district and to exchange views on issues of concern.
 
     Afterwards, accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Council, Mr Wong Wai-kit, and Miss Yip, Dr Law visited Caritas Wellness Link - Tsuen Wan, which is an Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) that offers one-stop support and rehabilitation services in Tsuen Wan District. Apart from providing various services to people suffering from mental or emotional distress, including one-to-one support services, day training services and whole-person/comprehensive development services, the centre also offers supporting and counselling services to carers and family members of mental or emotional distress sufferers to help them build support networks. The centre is also committed in promoting public awareness and understanding of mental wellness through a range of educational programmes on mental health.
 
     During the visit, Dr Law was briefed by the staff of Caritas Wellness Link - Tsuen Wan on the centre's services. He also met with members of the centre participating in day training to learn about the training they have received. After touring the centre, Dr Law had a sharing session with centre staff and peer support workers, as well as family members, friends and carers of service users, in order to hear their opinions and understand their needs.
 
     Dr Law said, "The Government attaches great importance to the mental health of Hong Kong residents and will continue to strengthen community support in this regard. The Social Welfare Department will create new clinical psychologist posts at ICCMWs to step up professional support for ex-mentally ill persons and persons suspected to have mental health problems. We will also increase the professional support of social workers in ICCMWs in order to enhance support for children of ex-mentally ill persons, as well as to step up community education for early prevention of mental illness."

Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:22

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