In our three-part newsletter series on creating a human-centred future of work, we took a deep dive into the prevalence of workplace burnout, its causes, and what employers and business leaders can do to improve employee wellbeing.
Mental and physical health are interconnected. And we are glad to see that some organizations in Hong Kong are making mental health service more accessible.
One such organization is ReSource The Counselling Centre. With sponsorship from the Fu Tak Iam Foundation Limited, ReSource is launching a subsidized counselling service program for healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and medical students) and educators, who are especially vulnerable to fatigue, burnout, mental exhaustion, poor staff morale, lower quality of life, and poor job satisfaction.
This was especially the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a study conducted by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in 2019, over 70% of local young doctors reported personal or work-related burnout, with a high prevalence of depression issues (21%).
At the same time, with school closures, teachers have had to develop new online teaching model to meet the learning needs of students. Combined, the unexpected changes in routine, heavier workload, and health concerns took a toll on teachers’ mental health. In a survey conducted in November 2020, over 80% of the 1,200 kindergarten, primary, and secondary school teachers surveyed said that their mental and physical wellbeing were negatively affected by the pandemic, with many citing exhaustion.
The subsidized counselling service program offered by ReSource aims to offer timely, professional, and affordable counselling services to help healthcare professionals and teachers deal with workplace burnout and other mental health issues. The services are available online and in person, including non-office-hours.
Details of the Subsidized Counselling Service Program
- Each counselling session is 50-60 minutes.
- Qualified applicants can receive the first two counselling sessions for a total fee of HK$60.
- Subsequent counselling fee is HK$300 per session for nurses, or HK$500 per session for public doctors.
- To make an appointment, phone +852 2523 8979 between 9:30am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. Or you may leave your name and contact information via WhatsApp +852 6489 4824, email resource@counselling.org.hk, or DM ReSource The Counselling Centre’s Facebook or Instagram.
