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Pilot Scheme on New Service Protocol for Child and Adolescent with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidity (“ADHD+”)

Background

Shortage of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses could not be resolved in the short term. Building capacity also means diversification and increase in the types of professional mental health service providers so as to provide the most timely help to those in need. With this objective in mind and starting with pilot service in the field of child and adolescent mental health needs, the Expert Group on New Service Protocol for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (“the Expert Group”) was established in July 2018. The Expert Group comprises Advisory Committee on Mental Health Members, clinical psychologists, paediatricians, scholars from local universities, social workers as well as representatives from the Health Bureau, Education Bureau, Department of Health, Social Welfare Department and Hospital Authority (“HA”).

After extensive deliberations, the Expert Group developed a new service protocol that aims to provide timely assessment and support to children and adolescents with mental health needs by utilising cross-sectoral multi-disciplinary professionals at the community level.

Since over 70% of patients under the age of 18 receiving HA’s psychiatric services are cases of autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”), the Expert Group decided to focus on ADHD to test out the effectiveness of the proposed new service protocol.