A psychiatrist on Sunday said that a central body is needed to streamline the delivery of mental health services in Hong Kong.

Chan Chung-mau, convenor of the Hong Kong Mental Health Council, noted that these patients are currently handled by many different groups, including the Hospital Authority, the Social Welfare Department, and NGOs.

But he said the fragmented delivery of such services makes it hard for patients – especially children – to get the help they need.

“Mental health care involves a whole team of professionals, from psychiatrists and psychologists to social workers and nurses. But in Hong Kong, these services are spread across different departments, each doing their own job, with no central authority to pull resources together,” he said.

Chan said a central body created by the government would be able to coordinate these services.

He stressed the importance of multidisciplinary teams working closely together, and urged officials to take a more proactive role in providing care so patients and families can get timely treatment.