Clinical Psychology Department | United Christian Hospital

The Department of Clinical Psychological Service dedicates to providing quality service to people who are suffering from mental health problems.

We provide assessment and treatment service in individual and group format based on evidence-based research and psychological theories. We actively work with different clinical and allied health departments in rendering multi-disciplinary services to our clients and their family members.

We implemented the stepped care model to improve patient access to psychological therapies. Standardized criteria were used to stratify the patient needs, which were matched with intensity of psychological therapies. We continued to review the effects on shortening our waiting time in out-patient service.
Regarding the outpatient services, we have developed “protocol-driven telecare group services”. Our “Parenting program for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems” was the first CP program endorsed by Allied Health Grade Department in HA. Programs for adult patients, i.e., “Sleep program” and “Stress Management program”, “Positive Psychology program”, “Mindfulness-based program” and “Acceptance-based program”, follow. These telecare programs will become part and parcel of our new normal services in post-pandemic era. We have further strengthened our clinical psychology telecare services to integrate it into HA Go so that the registration payment and service delivery are both on the same platform. Attendances generated from these telecare programs constituted about 17% of our yearly total attendances in 2020-2021.

Protocol-driven telecare group service

The Department of Clinical Psychological Service dedicates to providing quality service to people who are suffering from mental health problems.

In Adult Psychiatry Services, the emphasis is in recovery to support patients on the pathway of psychological recovery across the outpatient, inpatient and day hospital settings.

Other than serving people who suffer from general adult psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, there are four specialised clinics in stratifying the respective service needs: 1) Early Assessment Service for Young People with Early Psychosis (EASY), 2) Common Mental Health Disorder Clinical (CMDC), 3) CCDS (Comprehensive Child Development Service), and 4) Substance Abuse Clinic (SAC). Through the journey of psychological recovery, patients and their carers are supported for developing and strengthening their mental well-being so as to integrating into the community.

In General Medical Services, the emphasis is in helping inpatients and outpatients with various medical problems have better psychological adjustment to and coping with their illnesses and related medical treatments. We also promote healthy lifestyle and health self-management based on behavioral health principles. Our department has developed specialised psychological service in the following subspecialties: 1) Pain Clinic, 2) Palliative Service, 3) Oncology, 4) Cardiac Rehabilitation, and 5) Diabetics and Bariatric Surgery.

Regarding our child and adolescent services, we collaborated with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and Pediatric team to provide outpatient, inpatient and day hospital services. We supported CAMHS-Pediatric Collaboration Service (COCP) for patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and implement protocol-driven telecare group services, which became essential element of our service in the post-pandemic era. We are also part of the multi-disciplinary team of Student Mental Health Support Scheme (SMHSS) and support comprehensive assessment, care plan, interventions and training for students and school personnel. It is our value to support and expand psychosocial intervention services for patients and families in need.