Mental Health
Our Department has been undertaking various mental health research projects to implement the WHO recommendation of “Integration of Mental Health into Primary care” in Asian and Chinese context. These projects aim to enhance community mental health and self-efficacy for primary care patients particularly in chronic disease management, healthy ageing, youth well-being, and suicide prevention. In recent years, the Department collaborated with the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy to make use of big data and other approaches to tackle population mental health problems.
Our team has conducted research with the Hospital Authority, non-profit organizations, private primary care clinics, community centers, secondary schools and tertiary institutions within Hong Kong for primary care mental health research. We have identified the keys factors to facilitate help-seeking and management of mental health and psychosocial problems, and ways to promote youth well-being. We have been working with the World Health Organization in revising the primary care classification of mental and behavioural disorders for the ICD-11-PHC. We also have active international collaborations with universities in the Asia Pacific Region including Australia, Singapore and Mainland China for projects relating to depression, anxiety disorders, dementia, domestic violence, child abuse and safe sexual health.
Main Researchers
- Professor William Chi Wai Wong
- Professor Peter Tanuseputro
- Professor Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai (Coordinator)
- Professor Amy Pui Pui Ng
- Professor Linda Chan
- Professor David Ka Ki Wong
- Dr. Diana Wu
- Dr. Ken Qingqi Chen
Recent Research Projects
- Applying machine learning to identify and characterize multimorbidity profiles with increased cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and all-cause mortality risks in a retrospective cohort of antipsychotic users. . PI: Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai, 2022-2024, Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), HK$802,588.
- Elicitation of health state utilities for paediatric populations from the general public. . PI: Carlos K.H. Wong, 2019-2020, UGC-General Research Fund (GRF), HK$968,347.
- • Hong Kong Youths' Attitudes Towards Suicide, Coping Strategies and Online Help-seeking. PI: Tai Pong Lam, 2018-2020, Public Policy Research Grant, HK$880,918.
Key publications
- Hu Y, Gao L, Zhou L, Liu W, Wei C, Liu B, Sun Q, Tian W, Chu RYK, Song S, Cheng FWT, Chan JKN, Ng APP, Lo HKY, Lee KCK, Chang WC, Wong WCW, Chan EWY, Wong ICK, Chai Y, Lai FTT. Rare but elevated incidence of hematological malignancy after clozapine use in schizophrenia: A population cohort study. PLoS Med. 2024 Dec 5;21(12):e1004457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004457. PMID: 39636825; PMCID: PMC11620352. [2023 IF = 10.5; 12/325 in Medicine, General & Internal]
- Hu Y, Gao L, Zhou L, Liu W, Wei C, Liu B, Sun Q, Tian W, Chu RYK, Song S, Cheng FWT, Chan JKN, Ng APP, Lo HKY, Lee KCK, Chang WC, Wong WCW, Chan EWY, Wong ICK, Chai Y, Lai FTT. Rare but elevated incidence of hematological malignancy after clozapine use in schizophrenia: A population cohort study. PLoS Med. 2024 Dec 5;21(12):e1004457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004457. PMID: 39636825; PMCID: PMC11620352. [2023 IF = 10.5; 12/325 in Medicine, General & Internal]
- Chan JKN, Solmi M, Correll CU, Man Wong CS, Lo HKY, Lai FTT, Chang WC. Lithium for Bipolar Disorder and Risk of Thyroid Dysfunction and Chronic Kidney Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2458608. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58608. PMID: 39932712; PMCID: PMC11815528. [2023 IF = 10.5; 10/325 in Medicine, General & Internal]
- Ho MTH, Chan JKN, Lo HKY, Fang CZ, Wong CSM, Lee KCK, Lai FTT, Ng APP, Chen KQ, Wong WCW, Chang WC. Risk of mortality and complications in people with depressive disorder and diabetes mellitus: A 20-year population-based propensity score-matched cohort study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2025 Mar;92:10-18. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.11.011. Epub 2024 Nov 30. PMID: 39616972. [2023 IF = 6.1; 45/354 in Pharmacology & Pharmacy]
- Xu C, Leung JCN, Shi J, Lum DH, Lai FTT. Sedative-hypnotics and osteoporotic fractures: A systematic review of observational studies with over six million individuals. Sleep Med Rev. 2024 Feb;73:101866. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101866. Epub 2023 Oct 23. PMID: 37926010. [2023 IF = 11.2; 6/277 in Clinical Neurology]
Past research projects
- The epidemiology and natural history of depressive disorders in primary care. PI: Weng-Yee Chin, 2010-2013, Commissioned Research on Mental Health Policy and Services (HK$1,399,186, May 1, 2010).
- In-depth exploration of a bidirectional parent-child health relationship and its mediating and moderating factors among low-income families in Hong Kong. PI: Esther Yee-tak Yu, 2017-2019, Health and Medical Research Fund (#14151571, HK$1,183,868).
- A randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of screening and brief counselling for elderly patients with undiagnosed psychological problems in primary care. PI: Cindy L. K. Lam, 2002-2004, Health Care & Promotion Fund # 218016 ($806,990, 02-07-2002).
- What are the enablers and barriers of help-seeking among the psychologically distressed in primary care setting? - Promoting mental well-being in Hong Kong. PI: Tai Pong Lam, 2013-2014, Health and Medical Research Fund - Full Grant. Amount awarded: HKD$602,400.
- Depression and Anxiety in Global Primary Care Settings - A Field Study for the ICD-11-PHC. PI: Tai Pong LAM, 2014-2015. Small Project Funding. Amount awarded: HK$63,957.
- E-health Mobile Application to Improve Testing and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections Amongst Hong Kong’s Youth: A Randomised Controlled Trial.. PI: Wong, WCW, 2018-2018, Seed Fund for Basic Research for Resubmission of GRF/ECS Proposals >3.5, HK$56,000.
- What are the facilitators and obstacles to promote mental health help-seeking in primary care? – views of family physicians and psychiatrists. PI: Tai Pong LAM, 2011-2012. Small Project Funding. Amount awarded: HK$50,411.
- Self-reported health, health service utilization, mental health status, and sleeping quality: Results from Population Health Survey 2014/15. PI: Cindy L. K. Lam, 2018-2019, Unfunded.
- Exploring the views of hospital outpatients about the impact of dementia in Hong Kong. PI: Tai Pong Lam, 2018-2019.
- Moral distress in medical students: A qualitative analysis of ethical issues identified in the clinical clerkships. PI: Weng-Yee Chin, 2017-2018, unfunded.
- Psychometric properties of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory in Hong Kong doctors. PI: Weng-Yee Chin, 2017-2019, unfunded.
