Media

(Issued on behalf of HKU Faculty of Social Sciences) Press Conference of Community-wide Survey on Awareness and Attitude towards Elderly Depression in HK 2018

29 Jan 2018

According to a study, about 10% of the elderly population in Hong Kong have depressive symptoms, which contributes to the vulnerability of older people and causes higher risks of elderly depression or other major illness.  In response to this concern, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust approved funding of over HK$87 million to initiate the three-year “JC JoyAge: Jockey Club Holistic Support Project for Elderly Mental Wellness” (JC JoyAge) in providing comprehensive community support to reducing the risk of elderly depression, or relieving the depressive symptoms of the elderly.

Since the project launched in October 2016, the HKU Team ran a survey on awareness and attitude towards elderly depression in Hong Kong to understand the knowledge and attitudes towards elderly depression among Hong Kong citizens and to facilitate the design of public education campaign for the Project.  The first phase of the survey was conducted between August and September 2017 with the assistance from the University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme.  The detailed findings and the latest progress of JC JoyAge Project will be presented at the Press Conference.  A service recipient and a JC JoyAge Peer Supporter will also share experience on how the Project enhanced their resiliency in facing challenges of ageing through a community-based support network.

Media representatives are invited to join the event, details are as follows:

Date:         February 1, 2018 (Thursday)

Time:         3:00 pm (registration at 2:30pm)

Venue:       Social Sciences Function Room, 11/F, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong 

Speakers:   

Mr. Leong Cheung, Executive Director, Charities and Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Professor Terry Lum, Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration & Project Director

Dr. Gloria Wong, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration & Co- Principal Investigator

Ms. Tso, Peer Supporter, JC JoyAge

Ms. Chan, service recipient from JC JoyAge

For media enquiries, please contact

Mr. Tommy Fan, Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU (Tel: 39171204/97010777; Email: yhfan@hku.hk)