18111 Mental Health Support Hotline launched four new features today to offer more thoughtful, convenient, and comprehensive services, with a view to further enhancing mental health support for members of the public. The four new features of the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline are as follows:(1) WhatsApp supportHaving regard to modern communication habits of the public, the Hotline now offers WhatsApp support, allowing them to send instant messages to the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline and receive immediate online support from trained personnel. This feature is not only suitable for young people and persons in need who may feel hesitant or find it inconvenient to make phone calls, but also enables citizens with hearing or speech impairments to seek assistance in a more convenient manner, thereby enhancing the service's flexibility and accessibility.(2) Multi-language supportThe 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline now supports 12 languages. In addition to the original Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, the Hotline has expanded to support nine ethnic minority languages, namely Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Punjabi, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Bengali, and Thai. This enhancement improves service accessibility, enabling people using different languages to receive the support they need.(3) Scheduled callbackMembers of the public can now schedule a callback at a convenient time in advance via phone, voicemail, or WhatsApp. Trained personnel will contact them at a scheduled time, offering more flexible and thoughtful mental health support.(4) Additional optional servicesApart from talking with personnel of the Hotline, members of the public can opt to receive information on support services and stress management techniques or listen to life stories shared by persons in mental recovery on ways to cope with difficult situations and experiences in seeking help (Real People Library). These options, available via voice navigation or WhatsApp, enable members of the public to have instant access to information on other support services and advice on emotional relief.
(The video is broadcast in Chinese)For more details, please visit the Shall We Talk thematic website.

Please refer to the Chinese version.

Please refer to the Chinese version.

Are you ready to get back to the classroom? As always, it is essential for us to stay positive and connected with the community in the face of challenges ahead. Here are some back-to-school tips to help you prepare for the new start.Tips 1 - 【Entrance to Form One】You may more or less feel nervous and stressed when being progressed to the secondary school which is a new environment. Don’t worry, there is always a first time for everything in life. It just takes a bit of time to adapt to the new learning environment. Stay strong! Nothing can overwhelm you! Enjoy your new secondary school life. >>> Encouraging Messages for F.1 StudentsTips 2 -【Ready Get set, Go】What can you do to overcome the challenges of a new school environment?1. Be prepared – prepare for your lessons and make an effort to do your best at school.2. Find support – Talk with your teachers, parents or the school social worker. They are willing to help.3. Learn to relax – Take some deep breaths. Relax your muscles.>>> Read more on Ready… Get set, Go!Tips 3 -【Maintain Physical and Mental Health】In addition to preparing for lessons, you should also maintain physical and mental health. Do develop good habits for preventing and relieving stress, and take good care of your body as well as your mind!>>> Read more on 7 good habits to prevent and cope with stressNeed help? Don’t forget them! Even though there may be difficulties at times, you can always get support! Other than teachers and parents, these organisations are pleased to listen to your thoughts!For more tips, you might visit YouthCan’s “Back to School Tips - with Love”.Remember to stay positive and connected with the community. Have faith to yourself and enjoy a colourful life. You surely can make it!For more details, please visit the Student Health Service website.

Whenever the announcement of HKDSE exam results approaches, many students feel anxious about their performance. After receiving their results, they may experience even greater pressure if the scores do not match their own or their family’s expectations. Everyone reacts differently to stress and anxiety, and when emotions become overwhelming, you will be affected physically, emotionally, cognitively, or behaviorally. It’s crucial to pay attention to these signs, especially if they intensify, as professional assistance may be needed. Many professionals in social welfare organisations are willing to listen, provide emotional support, and also offer relevant information on further studies.Among all, the Shall We Talk initiative, which is jointly organised by the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and the Department of Health, delivers a series of information for students including mental well-being, common sources of stress and coping strategies for DSE-related pressure. Their website also introduces the 24-hour emotional support hotline, 18111, which is staffed by professionals. In addition, they provide a list of organisations offering emergency assistance.Besides, the Education Bureau has also collated the counselling services organisations into a “Community Resources and Helplines” list, in which counselling services that are suitable for HKDSE candidates are selected below. The counselling services are offered through various channels, allowing students to connect with the appropriate institutions based on their needs.1. Jockey Club Online Youth Emotional Support - Open Up (Chinese & English)Website: https://www.openup.hk/index.htm?lang=enFacebook / InstagramWhatsApp/ SMS: 9101 2012[Service Hours: 24-hour online counselling service]2. The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong - “Chatpoint” (Chinese & English)Website: https://chatpoint.org.hk/#/home[Service Hours:Monday to Friday (4 pm to 1 am next day)Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays (8 pm to 1 am next day)]3. Caritas Hong Kong - Caritas Infinity Teens (Cantonese, Putonghua, English)Website : http://it.caritas.org.hk/  (Chinese only)Phone Number: 2117 0321WhatsApp/ Signal: 9377 3666Email: [email protected][Service Hours:Monday and Tuesday (10 am to 6 pm);Wednesday and Thursday (2 pm to 10 pm);Friday and Saturday (6 pm to 2 am next day);Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays]The above information is for reference only. Updated information will be subjected to the announcement of individual organisations. If information from other organisations is needed, please contact the school social workers, counsellors, etc.Sources:Education Bureau - Life Planning Information WebsiteThe Shall We Talk initiativeJockey Club Online Youth Emotional Support - Open UpThe Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong Caritas Hong Kong - Caritas Infinity Teens (Chinese version only)

This year's Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (DSE) is about to start, are you candidates ready to give it a go? In addition to familiarising with the textbook knowledge, candidates should also pay attention to their physical and mental state. It may affect your body, emotions, as well as your concentration if you are under too much stress, so we should pay attention to the stress signals when they appear. Let's check out below the Mental health tips for DSE students (Available in Chinese only) provided by the Department of Health and pratice together! Stress reliefRelaxationDeep BreathingConnecting with othersPlanning for uncertain outcomesSelf-imaginationEveryone reacts differently to stress, and remember to seek professional help and counseling if needed! Apart from taking care of your mental health, do not forget to spare time for your physical health. You may refer to the Health Information and Tips for DSE Students provided by the Department of Health for detailed contents including health tips, online resources and other related government resoureces!More Related LinksDepartment of Health's Student Health Service - Emotional Health Tips - Exam Stress ManagementEducation Bureau's Mental Health@School - Resources for Coping with DSE Exam StressShall We Talk - DSE Exam Stress Management