St Johns Cathedral Counseling Service - Coursework Example

St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service Name Date Course Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service 3 Introduction 3 Discussion 4 About the organization 4 Contributions of the organization to mental health in Hong Kong 6 Extent of the mental health problem 8 Factors contributing to the mental health problem in Hong Kong 9 Challenges facing the organization 12 Conclusion 14 List of References 15 Cheung, E, 2014, Decline in mental health of Hong Kong youth 'distressing', says expert, Retrieved on 14th November 2015 from, . 15 BBC, 2011, Hong Kong conducts first mental health survey, Retrieved on 14th November 2015 from, . 16 St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service Introduction Hong Kong is a special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. It is also an autonomous territory with about 7.2 million people making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It became independent from the British in 1997. Hong Kong experienced political, social and economic changes after the 137 years of British rule. The population was left vulnerable as others were also following the Chinese traditional culture. Mental health problem is one of the main problems that are affecting the population. About 1 million to 1.7 million people in Hong Kong are suffering from mental health problems (Tseng & Wu, 2013).70, 000-200,000 people are suffering from severe mental health problems in Hong Kong. The common mental health problems that the people are suffering from in Hong Kong include Schizophrenia, somatoform disorders, stress, depression, and dementia. The hardship of life is one of the factors that have contributed to mental health problems in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, Men live longer than anywhere else in the world. And the same is applicable for women who second from Japan. Old age in Hong King is also a predisposing factor to mental health problems. Mental health problem has the potential of affecting the quality of life. This has seen most of the people suffering from mental health problem living under poor conditions. The government is aware of the metal health problem which is affecting the members of the society. Measures have been put in place to ensure that the people with mental health receive therapy and other forms of treatment. Different organizations have also been established for providing therapy to the members of the public suffering from mental health problems. St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service is one of the organizations that provide therapy to the people with various mental health problems. This includes stress, depression and other forms of mental health problems. The organization is located on Wyndham Street near St. John’s Cathedral, which is the oldest church in Hong Kong (St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015). The organization was established after the growing demands for the services and the country. The mission of the organization is to empower the human spirit towards greater awareness in making choices for growth and well-being. The mission of the organization is derived from universally accepted mental health counseling methods. The organization incorporates the concepts of positive psychology therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. The paper thus discusses the concepts of mental health problems in Hong Kong about the St. John’s Cathedral Counseling service. Discussion About the organization St John’s Cathedral Counseling Service was established in 1977 since the demand for professional counseling services for the people with mental problems was on the increase (St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015). Hong Kong is a multi-cultural community, and the counseling services are available diverse groups of clients. The services are offered to different groups of people regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age or race. When providing the mental health services to the clients, the positive psychology therapy model, and cognitive behavioural therapy model is utilized. The services intend to grow the character strengths to solve the mental health problem in the society. The organization is one of the most respected and recognized counseling centers in Hong Kong. The counselors at the organizations are either interns, counselors, therapists, clinical social workers and counseling/clinical psychologists. The counselors at the organization are highly qualified and experienced which enables them to handle the clients effectively. A lot of active listening and empowering interactions is usually involved during the counseling sessions (St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015). The counselors at the organization are usually committed to providing attentive, empathetic presence that is encompassed with a language of insightful choices and sustained empowerment. The counselors at the organization understand different languages including English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Japanese, Polish, German, French and Spanish. This is due to the diverse nature of the society in Hong Kong. The qualifications of most of the counselors at the organization are in art and play therapy, CBT, substance abuse, grief and loss, child and teen counseling and nursing. The client service provided by the organization is divided into three distinct well-recognized areas. This includes the academic counseling, organization counseling, and client counseling. The academic counseling mainly provides counseling to the children and teenagers. The counseling services provided for the children and teenagers includes art and play therapy, sand therapy, social skills training, cognitive testing and general counseling for the kids. Counseling services is also provided at the schools and colleges for enhancing the mental wellbeing of the students. Self-harm, depression, substance abuse, and internet addiction are also dealt with in this category (St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015). Client counseling is usually provided children teenagers, couples, parents, individuals and family members. The client counseling services mainly deals with marital issues, depression, stress, substance abuse, anger management, anxiety panic attack, self-esteem and work life balance. The client counseling services at the organization remains one of the most sought after services in Hong Kong. About 32 members of staff are responsible for adult counseling services at the organization (St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015). St. John’s Cathedral Counseling services also organizes for organizational counseling. This is for assisting the employees within an organization to cope with challenges that may result to mental problems. The provision of counseling services to the clients plays an important role regarding ensuring that the employees working for different organizations can avoid the mental health problems. This is considering that most of the employees in Hong Kong are under a lot of pressure to perform. Contributions of the organization to mental health in Hong Kong The organization has played an important role regarding promoting mental health in Hong Kong. The counseling model for the organization involves a 50 minutes session carried put on an appointment basis only. The schedules depend on the availability of the client. This, therefore, ensures that the clients can obtain the services at their convenience. A high number of people with mental problems have received the services of the organization that has led to improvements in the mental health. The organization provides mental health services to the individuals of diverse gender and age. The counseling services provided to the teenagers has led to positive gains (Zhang, et al., 2012). The levels of depression among the working class have been reduced as a result of the services offered by the customers. A lot of organizations in Hong Kong are inviting the organization to provide the counseling services to their members of staff. This is a major contribution towards enhancing the mental health in the country. Handouts are usually provided for informing the members of the public about the mental health issues. The information plays an essential role in enlightening the members of the public. The cultural perception of the people in Hong Kong with regards to mental health was quite negative in the past. Mental health was seen as a form of punishment for sins or crimes committed. However, the organization has enlightened the people about mental health that has played and essential role in demystifying the myths about mental health problems. The organization has impacted positively on the mental health of the elderly. In Hong Kong, most of the elderly find it difficult to adjust to the society after retirement (Tse, et al., 2012). This is due to a feeling of emptiness as well as loss of financial independence. The organization usually provides counseling services to the elderly which enables them to get rid of the emptiness and enjoy life after retirement. The organization has also provided the people with mental problems an opportunity to get rid of social isolation. This is through the counseling services as well as the awareness campaigns. The activities of the organization have played an important role in encouraging behavior change and hence reducing the levels of social isolation. The elderly are mainly affected by the social isolation that contributes to the mental health problem (Tse, et al., 2012). The activities of the organization have helped restore self-worth as well as confidence among the people suffering from the mental health problems. When adult children leave their families, a sense of loneliness is usually developed by the parents who contribute to the mental health problem. However, the organization is involved in providing interactive services that reduce the loneliness. The organizations continue to contribute positively to the society in promoting the mental well being. The organization is also involved I bring together different stakeholders to address the mental health problems. A high number of people have benefited from the activities of the organization, and it continues to make positive impacts in the society. Extent of the mental health problem In Hong Kong, metal health problems affect about 1 million to 1.7 million people. The mental health of conditions of the youth is also on the decline in Hong Kong. The mental health index for the youths between the ages of 15 and 24 is 53. The mental health index ranges from 0 to 100 with 100 being the full mental (Cheung, 2014). A prolonged period of sadness is evident among people from diverse age groups and gender. The perceptions among the people with regards to mental health illness are quite negative. In Hong Kong, people believe that anyone with the mental illness is dangerous and a threat to the society. The strong religious beliefs among the people in Hong Kong have also complicated the situation. Mental illness is considered a curse that impacts negatively on the treatment process. The levels of discrimination are high for the people with mental illnesses. Most of the people diagnosed with mental illness are usually shunned by the members of the society and family members. The family members of the people with mental illness in most cases do little to help. This has seen most of the people suffering from mental illness being locked in their houses. The fear of mental illness in Hong Kong is quite high despite its increase. This has created a challenge for the organizations dealing with people suffering from mental problems. The government has also acknowledged the problem after it commissioned a three-year survey in 2011 (BBC, 2011). In Hong Kong, Men are prone to some form of mental health problems due to the nature of their activities. Stress and Depression is a common mental health problem among the men in Hong Kong (Cheung, 2014). Insomnia that is difficulty in falling asleep is also a common problem among the men in the society. Excessive anxiety and worries as a result of anxiety disorders usually result to chronic distress that is more common among men. Mental problems in Hong Kong among the men are closely linked to suicide. The men who commit suicide due to mental problems usually do so to escape unbearable pain and frustrations. Pathological gambling usually results to distress among the men and hence contributing to mental problems. Women also face mental health problem as a result of different factors such as postnatal mood problems. The gender inequality in the society is also a source of depression and stress among the women in Hong Kong. Physical deterioration among the elderly usually results to distress and sense of helplessness and hence leading to mental problems. Mental health problem among the elderly in Hong Kong negatively influence the quality of life. Stigma is one of the major problems that the peopled with mental problems face in the society. This is common in Hong Kong and other parts of the world. The stigma among the members o the society further contributes to the poor mental health of the members of the society. Factors contributing to the mental health problem in Hong Kong The vulnerable citizens of Hong Kong were left vulnerable after 137 years of colonialization by the British (BBC, 2011). The confusions between the western influence and the Chinese culture also contributed to the mental health problem. The colonial systems and laws affected the way of life of the people in Hong Kong. The political system also changed the life of the people for the worst. The laws and regulations that were put in place by the colonialists were oppressive to most people and hence affecting their quality of life. The population in Hong Kong was disenfranchised and hence affecting the way of life. After colonialization, some of the colonial laws continued to be operational and hence contributing to the problems affecting the quality of life of the people (BBC, 2011). The authorities during the colonial period did not put in place adequate mental health facilities. This impacted negatively on the mental well-being of the people. The political systems also impacted negatively on the economy of Hong Kong. The tough economic conditions in Hong Kong had negative effects on the quality of life. Unemployment in Hong Kong is affecting most people, and this has impacted negatively on the mental well-being of most adults. Those who are also employed face a lot of stress and depression as most of them are under pressure to deliver good results. This has seen most employees working for long hours on a daily basis. Poor work-life balance among the employed people is contributing to the mental health problem. The Chinese migrants are the most vulnerable to the mental health problem in Hong Kong. Most of the Chinese migrants experience a lot of hardship in Hong Kong. Their living conditions are poor, and most of them live in extreme poverty that has negative impacts on their mental wellness. The cultural beliefs also contribute to the problem of mental health. Most of the people in Hong Kong believe that depression and stress is a natural reaction to the hardship they are facing (Nan, et al., 2012). As a result of this most of the people does not seek mental problems do not seek help from the counselors. In the Chinese culture depression and stress is not considered as a mental problem. This further makes it difficult for them to seek any form of help from the counselors. In the Chinese culture, mental health problem is considered as a curse. This has created a lot of fear among the people with regards to mental health problem. The people facing mental health problems are usually reluctant to seek the services of the counselors. Lack of awareness is also a problem that contributes to mental health problems in Hong Kong. The people in Hong Kong live longer than most parts of the country. However, most of the people live long years of sadness resulting to depression and stress (Nan, et al., 2012). Depression and stress among the elderly have contributed to the metal health problem in Hong Kong. The low qualities of life among the elderly negatively influence the quality of mental health. The teenagers and other youths are also vulnerable to mental problem as a result of the education system. The new curriculum of the Diploma in Secondary education is piling a lot of pressure on the students and hence contributing to stress and depression (Tse, et al., 2013). The youth who have completed their studies also face a lot of challenges regarding unemployment. The rate of unemployment among the youth is high which contributes to stress and depression. Lack of opportunities for the youth has led to several demonstrations in Hong Kong. The youth also lacks support from their colleagues as well as the other members of the society. This makes it difficult for them to express their problems. The parents in most cases are busy at work that leaves them with little time for their children. The education curriculum in Hong Kong does not address the issues of stress and depression among the students and hence making it difficult for the youth to deal with the problem. Substance abuse is a factor that has contributed to the mental health problems. As a result of unemployment and poverty, some of the youth have resorted to substance abuse resulting to negative mental health impacts. Addiction to the internet is also a common problem among the youth in Hong Kong (Tse, et al., 2013). This has seen the youth spend a lot of time on the internet without rest and hence contributing to mental health problems. Hong Kong is considered as the gateway to China and in some instances it has also been referred to as where the East meets the West. As a result of this, Hong Kong has a unique cultures and system that governs the activities of the people. The current system is capitalism and the state intervention on various aspects is quite limited. In a capitalist system, it is everyone for himself. People are expected to solve their problems and hence limiting the intervention of the government (Chan, et al., 2015). This contributes to the problem of mental illness as the role of the government is limited. It is also difficult for the individuals to obtain any help from the government and is therefore forced to work hard to fend for themselves. Capitalism has also contributed to the long working hours among the individuals to meet their daily needs. The society is also facing some levels of gender inequality that mainly affects the women. This makes it difficult for women to get certain jobs that are well paying. The roles that are given to women in most cases is inferior as compared to that of the men. This makes it difficult for women to achieve their goals of career advancement that leads to frustrations. The mental health problems among the women in the society have therefore been impacted negatively by the inequality in the society (Chan, et al., 2015). The men in the society face a lot of pressure to fend for their families and hence contributing to the mental health problem. Challenges facing the organization St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service is usually faced with various challenges when carrying out its activities. The cultural beliefs and perceptions with regards to mental health and counseling are the major challenges to the organization. However, the organization has put in place measures to solve this problem. This involves enlightening the embers of the public about mental health in collaboration with the other organizations. Awareness programs are also in place that has enabled the organization to demystify the myths about mental health problems. The costs of offering counseling services are high, and most of the people cannot afford. This is considering that payment has to be made before the sessions. However, to solve this problem, the organization offers discounts as well as competitive packages to the people with mental problems. Hong Kong is a multi cultural society and it has members of diverse groups (Cheung & Wong, 2011). To address this challenge, the organization has staff members who understand different languages. It therefore ensures that the clients who speak different languages are able can obtain the counseling services at the facility. Support from some of the stakeholders is also lacking and this is a challenge to the organization. The support from the government has not been adequate. The organization has however partnered with different organizations and stakeholders. Frequent consultations with the government are also ongoing for promoting the awareness campaign. The frequent consultations with the government have seen an improvement in funding for mental health programs. Class and racial segregation is a challenge that the organization is faced with during the process of providing the counseling services to the people in Hong Kong. The attitudes towards and perceptions towards the members of the lower status of the society is quite negative. This makes the members of the lower status vulnerable top mental illness. It is difficult for them to obtain support from the members of the society and hence affecting the outcome of the process. The organization usually launches campaigns to promote change of attitude among the members of the society. The members of the society also find it difficult to admit that they are suffering from stress or depression (Cheung & Wong, 2011). This makes it difficult for them to seek the services of the organization. The organization therefore faces a challenge of encouraging the members of the society to seek the counseling services whenever they are faced with mental health problems. However, the campaigns by the organization play an important role regarding promoting behavior change. In Hong Kong, there is a lot fear associated with mental problems. This is because it is considered a curse by most of the people in Hong Kong. This has created a challenge for the organization as most people do not like being seen visiting the organization to obtain the services. Awareness campaigns have played an important role in ensuring that the people obtain the correct facts about mental health problem. Partnering with the community embers is also done while carrying out the sensitization campaigns. Conclusion St. John Cathedral Counseling services are one of the popular psycho-therapy organizations in Hong Kong. It is evident that the organization is playing an important role in addressing the mental health problem. A large population of in Hong Kong is suffering from mental health problems. The main cause of mental health problems in Hong Kong is unemployment, substance abuse, loneliness, and difficulties of life, frustrations and poverty. The social, political and cultural factors also contribute to the mental health problem. It is evident that colonial laws and the differences between the cultural aspects contributed to confusions. It is evident that the changes in the education sector contribute to mental health problem among the students and the youth. The organization has diversified its services for ensuring that the needs of the clients are met. The counseling services provided by the organization meets the needs of all the members of the society. It is evident that the organization has made positive contributions in Hong Kong in dealing with the mental health problem. It is evident that the organization is facing various challenges during the provision of services to the clients. The cultural belief is the main challenge that the organization is facing when providing mental health services to the people. Mental health problem in Hong Kong is associated with a curse. It is also difficult for the people to seek the counseling services as they consider it a weakness. It is evident that the organization has played an important role in promoting change of attitude and perceptions among the members of the public. Enlightening the members of the society can improve on the mental health problem facing the people in Hong Kong. List of References St. John’s Cathedral Counseling Service, 2015, Home page, Retrieved on 14th November 2015 from, . Cheung, E, 2014, Decline in mental health of Hong Kong youth 'distressing', says expert, Retrieved on 14th November 2015 from, . BBC, 2011, Hong Kong conducts first mental health survey, Retrieved on 14th November 2015 from, . Tseng, W, S, & Wu, D, Y, 2013, Chinese culture and mental health, Academic Press. Zhang, J, et al, 2012, Long-term outcomes and predictors of chronic insomnia: a prospective study in Hong Kong Chinese adults, Sleep medicine, 13(5), 455-462. Tse, S, et al, 2012, Recovery in Hong Kong: Service user participation in mental health services, International Review of Psychiatry, 24(1), 40-47. Nan, H, et al, 2012, Depressive symptoms in people with chronic physical conditions: prevalence and risk factors in a Hong Kong community sample, BMC psychiatry, 12(1), 198. Tse, S, et al, 2013, Can recovery-oriented mental health services be created in Hong Kong? Struggles and strategies, Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 40(3), 155-158. Chan, K, et al, 2015, Application of SCOPE-C to measure social inclusion among mental health services users in Hong Kong, Community mental health journal, 1-5. Cheung, L, M, & Wong, W, S, 2011, The effects of insomnia and internet addiction on depression in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents: an exploratory cross‐sectional analysis, Journal of sleep research, 20(2), 311-317. Read More