Gov’t rules out counselor certification scheme, confirms mental health service site for Q2

A unified certification system for psychological counselors is not on the cards for now, but the government will continue to provide training and support, with a physical and mental health service station set to launch in the second quarter of next year.

In response to legislator Ella Lei’s inquiry on the structural challenges of Macau’s mental health services – which called for a top-down resource integration strategy and the establishment of a professional accreditation system for counselors – the authorities have confirmed that a physical service hub will be launched in the second quarter of next year to provide rapid and accessible support.

A cross-departmental task force on mental health already convenes weekly to address complex cross-sector cases, and a standardized referral mechanism has been implemented.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, O Lam, further stated: “A physical site will be available in Q2 next year – a landmark point of access for the public. We are also actively studying the feasibility of rolling out a unified telephone hotline platform before the end of this year.”

Notably, the government has established a four-tier mental health service framework across the Health Bureau (SSM), the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), and the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS).

Psychiatric specialists handle severe cases, trained general practitioners address mild conditions, clinical psychologists provide therapy, and counselors deliver community- and school-based support. A cross-departmental working group is focused on resolving the three main barriers – case identification, resource deployment, and service continuity – by integrating resources and offering multiple entry points.

Residents can access services through community stations or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with unified assessments ensuring appropriate referrals. The group meets regularly to review complex cases, while outreach teams proactively identify and support individuals who may not come forward on their own.

Concerns over the professional development of psychological counselors have been raised, with authorities confirming that they are not currently considering a unified certification mechanism. The government explained that the academic backgrounds, employing institutions, and nature of work of school counselors, student counselors, and social workers under the Social Welfare Bureau are highly diverse.

The Secretary stated: “Their academic backgrounds, employing institutions, and the nature of their work are quite varied, making it difficult to implement a unified certification system. Introducing a single certification could exclude some individuals from the field and reduce flexibility and accessibility for institutions in hiring staff.” As such, the government has ruled out a government-led certification scheme for now, but will continue to provide standardized training across service providers and prioritize the professional development of counseling staff.

As the DSEDJ director, Kong Chi Meng, further explained, the authorities have established a comprehensive crisis response mechanism for schools. When a serious incident occurs on campus, in addition to the school-based counselors, supervisors and professional roving support personnel from counseling organizations are dispatched to the school immediately, while the bureau’s Psychological Education and Counseling Centre also provides on-site support and follow-up services.

“When a serious incident occurs at a school, apart from the counselors stationed at the school, the supervisors and professional roving support staff from counseling organizations will be dispatched to the school immediately, and the bureau’s Psychological Education and Counseling Centre will also provide on-site support and follow-up services,” he said.

According to the SSM, residents can access the “mood check” service via the Macao One Account platform for preliminary emotional assessments, with monthly usage averaging approximately 1,000 times and about 5% of cases flagged for further intervention.

The SSM director, Alvis Lo, said: “The service is used by around 1,000 people each month, and about 5% of the results indicate a need for further follow-up.” To enhance accessibility, the bureau has also introduced a “mobile van” that tours various community locations.