iACT® Service

What is iACT® ?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is a pioneering initiative designed and developed by Mind HK. It adopts a stepped care model for mental health service based on an internationally accepted framework, such as Talking Therapies in the United Kingdom (previously known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, IAPT) or New Access in Australia.

iACT® aims to provide structured, comprehensive and quality training as well as evidence-based, accessible and affordable mental health support to people in need in Hong Kong. The service provided by Mind HK is currently free of charge as it is sponsored by multiple funders.

As part of its pilot phase (2021-2024), Mind HK trained 51 Wellbeing Practitioners (previously known as Youth Wellbeing Practitioners, YWP) to work with youth (age 12-24) and is currently training 31 Wellbeing Practitioners (previously known as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, PWP) to work with adults (age 18-65). These wellbeing practitioners have been specifically trained to deliver low-intensity, guided interventions to individuals experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety issues.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners (WPs) have also been placed into various community settings, including secondary school, community colleges, universities, NGOs and clinics. Currently, we provide free service for adults aged 18-65 from July 2023 to April 2024. Through the iACT® sessions, clients will learn new skills in coping with challenges and managing emotions, and will be supported in improving their quality of life. We also offer service provided onsite at local secondary schools.

This website, www.iact.hk, was set up to ensure individuals across Hong Kong can utilise our iACT® online service, and meet our wellbeing practitioners at their own convenience and in their own space.

Who we are

Mind HK is a section 88 registered mental health charity here to ensure no one has to face a mental health problem alone in Hong Kong. Through our work, we are dedicated to educating around mental health and removing the associated stigma, with the goal of achieving the best mental health for all in Hong Kong. With existing collaboration and research efforts, we are here to support Hong Kong in becoming a global leader and regional model for public mental health.

Host Organisations for the iACT® Service (PWP)

We would like to sincerely thank the following institutions for participating in this programme as a Host Organisation:

AKA
Baptist Oi Kwan Social Services
Central Health
Central Minds
Fu Hong Society
Hong Kong PHAB Association
HKUSPACE PLK Stanley Ho Community College
Joyful Mental Health Foundation
KUNST EXA Academy
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
The LU Institute of Further Education

The Mental Health Association Hong Kong
MINDSET
Mind HK (online intervention)
PathFinders
Run HK
Society for Community Organisation (SoCO)
St. John’s Cathedral Counselling Service
The University of Hong Kong – Lap Chee College
Yuen Long Town Hall
The WYNG Foundation

*To enquire about these organisations’ services, please get in touch with them directly.

iACT® Service (PWP) Committee Members

Localisation Partner

Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (Hong Kong Chapter)

Working Group

Dr Amanda Cheung – Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, HKU

Mr Ikey Cheung – Member, the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, HKSAR

Dr Roger Ng – Psychiatrist; Former President, the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists; Interim Secretary General, World Psychiatric Association

Dr Anthony Tong – Chairman, Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (Hong Kong Chapter)

Dr Paul Wong – Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU

Research Team

Dr Amanda Cheung – Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, HK

Prof Patrick Leung – Professor, Faculty of Psychology, CUHK

Dr Candice Powell – CEO, Mind HK

Mr Henry Wong – Clinical Psychologist

Dr Paul Wong – Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU

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