Mental Health in the Workplace Campaign

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It is well recognised that mental health problems are highly prevalent in the community (it was reported in 1999 that around 18% of the local population suffered from some kind of mental illness). Work stress is also found to be detrimental to the productivity and efficiency of an organisation and is causing significant casualties in the workforce (the International Labour Office conducted an in-depth situation analysis in Finland, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom and the United States in 2000 and found both the number of employees having a mental problem and the costs borne by employers in this respect appalling. For example, it was estimated that about 30% of employees would have a mental health problem in the UK and US$ 23.8 billion was lost in the form of absenteeism and reduced productivity in one year in the United States).

In view of the unfavourable economic changes and recurrent restructuring of the Government, police officers and their civilian counterparts in the Force are faced with demands (on top of their day-to-day work stress) that are taxing on their personal strength and even emotionally draining in their workplace. The competence of officers in coping with their stress in the workplace, their ability to take the changes as a challenge, quality care and helping skills among colleagues, and sensitivity and support from the Management are more important than ever in ensuring that members of the Force are maintaining a good mental health condition, retaining a high standard of performance, and even experiencing growth and personal development.

CARELINKS 2003

PSG is launching a 'Mental Health in the Workplace Campaign' this year called "CARELINKS 2003". The primary aim of the campaign is to promote: (1) positive mental health in the work setting (coping with mood problems and conflicts, job satisfaction, work-family interaction, etc); (2) quality care and mutual support among fellow officers; and, (3) a healthy lifestyle for the enhancement of Force members' mental well being as an employee.

The campaign comprises a series of activities. They include: (1) Forums (local and overseas experts will be invited to hold a number of forums on mood management, mental health issues in the workplace, and issues relating to family and police stress); (2) Road Shows (PSG will visit all the six Regions between April and June to promote positive mental health care, supervisors' sensitivity to supervisees' needs, and support among peers; (3) Modular Courses on Counselling, Support, and Crisis Management in the Workplace for police managers and supervisors; (4) Advanced Stress Management Workshops (in addition to our bi-monthly Stress Management Workshops held at PSRC, an advanced workshop on "Personal Emotional Management" will be conducted in May and November respectively; and, (5) Publications (PSG will publish a series of articles on 'Mental Health in the Workplace' in OffBeat throughout 2003).

Mood Management Seminar

Let us join hand in hand in mitigating the impact of stress in the workplace through developing a mentally healthy lifestyle and cultivating a supportive and caring culture in the Force. We look forward to your participating in the upcoming programmes of our "CARELINKS 2003".

Mood disorder is increasingly common in urban living. Prevention is better than treatment. Understanding the relationship between stress and emotion is essential to maintain good emotional health. In view of these, Psychological Services Group would hold a seminar on "Mood Management in Everyday Living" for all Force members.

Registration

Date: April 26 (Saturday), 10 am -12 noon. Place: Auditorium, 5/F of CSTDI. Speaker: Professor Sing Lee . Number in Audience: 150. Language: Cantonese. Registration: To reserve a seat, please contact Ms Kan at 2735-5308; by fax: (2735-7236); or by PEN (psg-kln-gr@police.gov.hk).

The speaker, Professor Sing Lee, is currently the Reader of Psychiatry Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is a lecturer with the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also the Director of the Hong Kong Mood Disorders Center and of the Hong Kong Eating Disorders Center.

Advanced Stress Management Workshop on Personal Emotional Management will be held on May 17. Details will be announced in the next issue of OffBeat.

 
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