The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Visiting of the mental health experience museum Mind Space at Castle Peak Hospital (CPH) will be opened to invited community organisations and schools starting from October 1, and will provide limited services during the epidemic.
As a psychiatric hospital with the longest history in Hong Kong, CPH not only provides a comprehensive range of psychiatric treatments and services to patients, but also actively promotes community mental health education. Aiming to raise public awareness of mental well-being, CPH established Hong Kong's first mental health experience museum, Mind Space, with a generous donation of $30 million by the HSBC 150th Anniversary Charity Programme. The Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission (YDC), Mr Lau Ming-wai, and various YDC members, together with the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Miss Helen Tang; and Principal Assistant Secretary for Food and Health (Health) Mr Fung Pan-chung visited Mind Space today (September 3) as part of YDC's initiative to promote young people's positive thinking.
In addition to precious historical relics that reveal the development of psychiatric services in Hong Kong as well as the history of CPH, Mind Space also provides interactive exhibits to present common mental health problems and treatments, so as to enhance visitors' knowledge of mental health. Moreover, visitors can also experience symptoms of mental health problems with virtual reality simulations, and talk to Peer Support Workers to learn more about their recovery path and their feelings.
"Community education is particularly important to mental health promotion. With this new platform of Mind Space that incorporates exhibition experience and education on mental health, we hope visitors can have a better understanding of patients with mental health needs, so as to eliminate misunderstanding and stigma towards the patients in the society, and to promote mental well-being," the Hospital Chief Executive of CPH, Dr Lam Ming, said.
In light of the latest situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mind Space will provide limited service in the first phase, and restrict visiting to invited community organisations and schools only. The staff will contact the groups invited and arrange no more than four persons to visit Mind Space in the same session.
Visitors are required to have completed a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination for at least 14 days, and to comply with the infection control measures in Mind Space, such as wearing surgical masks, temperature checking and filling in health declaration forms. In addition, visitors have to scan the LeaveHomeSafe venue QR code before entering Mind Space. CPH hopes visitors can understand and comply with the visiting arrangements under the current epidemic situation.
In order to facilitate the opening arrangement, Mind Space has enhanced its infection control measures. All staff members of Mind Space have already completed a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination so as to minimise the infection risk for visitors and staff.
The visiting arrangement of Mind Space will be reviewed with due consideration of the latest epidemic situation, and will be further extended to other groups and public visitors if the situation allows. Mind Space will announce updates on the visiting arrangement in due course.
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