The Carelinks Cadre was established by the Psychological Services Group (PSG) in July 2005 to promote positive life attitudes among officers and offer emotional support for those in need. Composing of police officers and civilian staff of different ranks, the cadre arranges caring ambassadors to serve colleagues on a voluntary basis with a view to cultivating a caring culture in the Force.
The cadre has been providing diversified services, such as the provision of health tips for probationary inspectors and recruit police constables, encouraging officers to participate actively in positive thinking workshops organised by the PSG, and the setting up of a mental health hotline - the Carelinks Helpline (9810-0202) - to offer a sharing platform for officers.
Looking back over the past year, the cadre continued to provide peer support services and organise a series of special activities:
A group of 55 Carelinkers attended a two-day training camp at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Camp between March 12 and 13 to enhance their personal development and team building
Twenty-nine Carelinkers attended the Mental Health First Aid Standard Course in August to better understand the symptoms and the treatment of the common mental health problems in order to provide appropriate support to their peers before the situation worsens
The 11th Carelinks Cadre Annual Forum was held at the Police Headquarters on November 19. Secretary General of Tsz Shan Monastery Mr Walter Ngai was invited to speak on the theme of "Kindness, Empathy, Joyfulness and Inclusiveness"
The then Assistant Commissioner (Personnel) Tang Ping-keung presented awards to the winners of the Polo-shirt Design Competition at the Annual Forum. The cadre hoped to promote a caring culture in the Force through the competition, with a total of 120 submissions received. The winning design would be adopted as a prototype in the production of the cadre's polo-shirt
Thirty ambassadors were appointed as the fourth generation of Carelinkers at the Annual Forum. They had completed training in peer counselling, listening skills, mental health knowledge, handling stress of officers, grief counselling, psychological first aid, studying addictive behaviour and suicide prevention, and are ready to provide support to colleagues in need
In memory of the founding member of the Carelinks Cadre – Superintendent Au Yeung Kwok-kee. With carefree, courageous, upright and altruistic as his motto, he is well respected among the cadre members. Although he passed away, his spirit would last for generations
