Government launches 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline

The government launched the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline on Wednesday to provide one-stop and round-the-clock support for people with mental health needs and render them immediate referral services. 

The hotline operates all year round with dedicated personnel answering the phone 24 hours a day, providing immediate support and counseling services to the public from all backgrounds and of all ages, the government said. 

Callers will also be referred to the most appropriate organizations depending on the nature of individual cases. The hotline coordinates about 20 related organizations to provide comprehensive mental support services to the public. 

The hotline will ensure calls will be picked up by at least six staffers in different time periods, and authorities can allocate more manpower if necessary, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said. 

If the call is left unanswered, the system will record the call automatically and call back in half an hour. 

The hotline is fully funded by the government to coordinate existing counseling services provided by authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Lo also said during the kick-off ceremony today. 

It allows those in need to obtain assistance through calling an easy-to-recall phone number, he added. 

“Simply remember that the ‘18111’ hotline attends to mental health needs from all ‘18’ districts in Hong Kong and ‘one’ who needs help will get ‘one’-stop support just by calling ‘one’ dedicated hotline,” Lo said. 

The hotline was one of the initiatives put forward in the 2022 Policy Address to step up efforts in promoting mental health and bringing more happiness to citizens.