take action now for your mental health
Introduction to iACT
iACT® stands for Improving Access to Community Therapies. Developed by Mind HK, iACT utilises an internationally recognised stepped care model that has been successfully implemented in various countries. This approach draws inspiration from the long-established Talking Therapies initiative in the UK (formerly known as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, IAPT) and New Access in Australia, both designed to provide mental health support to those in need.
At Mind HK, we are committed to providing evidence-based psychological support to individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, or other forms of emotional distress in Hong Kong.
We strive to ensure that psychological support is readily accessible to everyone and available within the community. We uphold the belief that everyone has the right to manage their mental health with the assistance of trained professionals in a secure and supportive environment.
Is this service suitable for me?
This service is suitable for people looking to improve their mental health or who are facing various emotional challenges.
Who is This For:
- Hong Kong residents aged 12 to 65 for all.
- People experiencing mild to moderate emotional distress who want to improve their mental health.
- Currently (or previously) not diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions
- Not currently receiving other forms of mental health support
What are the benefits of our service?
Free of Charge
This service is fully funded, allowing us to provide free services for you
Flexible, Short-Term Psychological Support
6-8 sessions will be provided affording your needs, each lasting around 45 minutes
Confidential One-on-One Sessions
All conversations and personal information will be kept private, unless there are risks detected
Professional Support
Our services are provided by trained Wellbeing Practitioners
Service User Testimony
Very helpful in understanding myself better and it made me a better version of myself.
- Service User
A good way to deeply understand the way our feelings work and how our experiences shape who we are.
- Service User
My Wellbeing Practitioner listens to many of my concerns and feelings. He taught me a lot of skills to let myself handle different situations and help me feel better from having different feelings.
- Service User
Some exercises were psychologically challenging, but my Wellbeing Practitioner supported me, and I eventually experienced their benefits.
- Service user
I appreciate this service, especially since it is free for individuals like me who have never tried counselling. It offers a valuable opportunity to explore new approaches to cope with life’s challenges.
- Service user
I really enjoyed it. It is a valuable support therapy that helps individuals learn about themselves and better manage their feelings
- Service user
Mind HK is expecting to train nearly 130 Wellbeing Practitioners by 2025.
Throughout the pilot programme (2021-2024), we are committed to creating a systematic, comprehensive, and high-quality training framework through the iACT service. Our goal is to deliver evidence-based mental health support that is accessible and affordable for those in need across Hong Kong.
All our Wellbeing Practitioners must complete complete an intensive hybrid training programme, followed by a placement where practitioners must achieve 120 hours of direct clinical experience to deliver low-intensity guided support to individuals experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety.
Interested in becoming a Wellbeing Practitioner?
Thanks to the generous support of sponsoring organisations, we are currently able to offer the service free of charge to individuals seeking assistance.
Host Organisations for iACT service
We would like to sincerely thank the following institutions:
Healthymind Centre
Charitable Choice Limited
Fu Hong Society
Yuen Long Town Hall
Aberdeen Kaifong Welfare Association
Hong Kong PHAB Association
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG)
The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong
Society for Community Organization
Lap-Chee College
Mind HK (Online Service)
HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College
Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Center
Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation
St John’s Cathedral Counselling Services
Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service
Lingnan Institute of Further Education, Lingnan University
Central Health
Central Minds
Run HK
The WYNG Foundation
*To learn more about the services these organisations provide, please get in touch with them directly.
iACT Committee and Advisors
Advisory Committee
Prof Paul WONG
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU
Dr Michelle TAM
Psychiatrist
Prof Samuel WONG
Professor, School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK
Vivien FONG
Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service
Mr Ikey CHEUNG
Speech Therapist, Member of Advisory Committee on Mental Health
Mr Chung Ping SIT
Former iACT Wellbeing Practitioner, iACT Wellbeing Practitioner Alumni
Research Advisors
Prof Patrick LEUNG
Research Professor, Department of Psychology, CUHK
Dr Amanda CHEUNG
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, HKU
Prof Shirley HUNG
Professor, Department of Social Work, HKBU
Prof Mike SO
Professor, Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management, HKUST
Dr Elisabeth WONG
Specialist in Psychiatry, Mind HK Board Advisor