Gov’t expands community mental health services: SSM

The local government has reported progress in promoting mental health services, with over 156,000 residents participating in more than 2,700 community activities between 2022 and the third quarter of 2025.

The data was released in response to a written interpellation submitted by lawmaker Vong Hou Piu.

According to Health Bureau (SSM) director Lo Iek Long, the government has focused on three main strategies: early intervention in diseases, decentralization of resources, and changing mindsets to encourage voluntary help-seeking.

In 2025, more than 127,000 people took part in monthly health promotion events, including community health consultation posts and flash health stations, designed to raise awareness of both physical and mental health.

In Vong’s interpellation, he queried how the government ensures that mental health services in community neighborhoods are “not merely one-way promotional activities, but effectively identify and follow up on high-risk or needy cases, forming a closed loop from outreach to intervention.”

In his reply, Lo said that mental health services have been integrated into all nine community health centers, offering outpatient mental health consultations and psychotherapy.

Additionally, non-profit organizations have partnered with the government to provide a 24-hour psychological consultation platform and a support hotline for residents in need.

In Vong’s query, he noted that in the Asian sociocultural context, stigma regarding mental health problems remains a challenge, and social prejudices often act as invisible barriers preventing individuals from seeking professional help.

A study by a local university found that “self-stigma,” such as believing that seeking psychological help is a sign of weakness, is the main factor deterring professional support. For many Asian communities, maintaining “face” is crucial, which closely affects the willingness to seek help.

The recently released 2025 Macau Secondary School Student Mental Health Survey shows that when students feel stressed, their main sources of support are friends (29%) and family (17%), while fewer than 0.5% seek professional support.

Meanwhile, Lo said the government has established the “Community Mental Health Partner Plan,” collaborating with more than 100 institutions and reaching over 102,000 workers, offering training, psychological support, and referral services.

Additionally, the Training Base for Physical and Mental Health Support trained over 470 professionals by the end of 2025.

Since the start of the year, reports from the Judiciary Police (PJ) show that the city has seen five cases of unattended bodies discovered.

Macau recorded 91 suicide cases in 2024, marking a new local high and an increase from 88 cases in 2023. Data for 2025 has not yet been released.

The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) encourages residents to be conscious of their psychological and emotional state as well as those of their relatives and friends. If in need, residents can call Caritas Life Hope hotline (28525222) or IAS’ counseling hotline (28261126).