Mental Health Well-being of Carers of Older Adults: Compilation of Free Hotlines and Online Support Services

Caring for an older loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly challenging and overwhelming. Carers are often so focused on the needs of their loved ones that they neglect their mental well-being, leading to burnout, stress, and other mental health issues. If you experience any of the following symptoms of carer burnout, please seek help as soon as possible.

• Feeling extremely fatigued, often exhausted even after sleeping or resting.
• Experiencing heavy stress and anxiety, finding it difficult to relax.
• Becoming increasingly impatient and irritable towards the person being cared for.
• Feeling powerless and helpless, lacking motivation for caregiving tasks.
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed.

We have compiled a list of hotlines and free online mental health support services that are easily accessible to carers. You can choose the appropriate service based on the type of support you need, service hours, support mode, and language preferences.

Hotlines Specifically for Carers

Social Welfare Department - Designated Hotline for Carer Support 

• Website: https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/rehab/cat_supportcom/scpd/dhcs/ 
• Hotline: 182 183 (24 hours)
• Target group: Carer of older persons and carer of persons with disabilities/persons in mental recovery who need instant counseling services and service referrals. 
• Language: Cantonese, English, Putonghua

Hong Kong’s Federation of Women’s Centres

• Website: https://womencentre.org.hk/Zh/Services/carer/carershotline/ 
• Hotline: +852 2654 6266
• Target group: Carers who need counseling, service referrals, and support with daily living. Non-emergency or crisis.
• Language: Cantonese

Caritas Jockey Club Resource and Support Centre for Carers

• Website: https://sws.caritas.org.hk/carer/contactus.html 
• Hotline: +852 3892 0101
• Target group: Carers who need counseling, service referrals, and support with daily living.
• Language: Cantonese

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals 

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/TWGHsCareWise 
• Hotline: +852 2815 7838
• Target group: Carers of older persons who need counseling, service referrals, and support with daily living.
• Language: Cantonese

Salvation Army Hong Kong 

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/LoveInTime.WeAreAllCarers?locale=zh_HK 
• Hotline: +852 2782 2229
• Target group:  Carers of older persons who need counseling, service referrals, and support with daily living.
• Language: Cantonese

Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing 

• Website:  https://www.jccpa.org.hk/ 
• Hotline: +852 2333 2393
• Target group: Carers who need counseling and information about dementia. 
• Language: Cantonese

Government Hotlines

Health Bureau - Mental Health Support Hotline

• Website: https://www.shallwetalk.hk/en/get-help/mental-health-support-hotline-18111/ 
• Hotline: 18111 (24 hours)
• Target group: Individuals in need of emotional support and counseling services.
• Language: Cantonese, English, Putonghua

Hospital Authority - 24-hour Mental Health Hotline

• Hotline: +852 2466 7350 (24 hours)
• Target group: Individuals seeking mental health support and assistance from medical staff.
• Language: Cantonese, English, Putonghua

Social Welfare Department 

• Website: https://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/contactus/ 
• Hotline: +852 2343 2255 (24 hours)
• Target group: Individuals seeking counseling, service referrals and enquiries about social welfare services. 
• Language: Cantonese, English, Putonghua

Hotlines from Other Organizations

Suicide Prevention Services

• Website: https://www.sps.org.hk/?a=group&id=hotline 
• Hotline: +852 2382 0000 (24 hours)
• Target group: Individuals experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts.
• Language: Cantonese

The Samaritans Hong Kong

• Website: https://samaritans.org.hk/services/hotline/  
• Hotline: +852 2896 0000 (24 hours)
• Target group: Multi-lingual individuals experiencing emotional distress, including feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
• Language: Cantonese, English, Putonghua and other languages

Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre

• Website: https://fcsc.caritas.org.hk/hotline-1 
• Hotline: +852 18288 (24 hours)
• Target group: Individuals and families facing crises, including mental health issues.
• Language: Cantonese

Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service 

• Website: https://carer.bokss.org.hk/24-hour-hotline 
• Hotline: +852 2535 4135
• Target group: Individuals seeking emotional support and mental health information including referral to other mental health services
• Language: Cantonese

The Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre

• Website: https://emwbc.zubinfoundation.org/ 
• Hotline: +852 9682 3100
• Target group: Ethnic minorities who need emotional support and counseling services
• Language: English, Hindi, Urdu, and Nepali

Online Support Services 

Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service - Re:Fresh Online Self-help Platform 

• Website: https://refresh.bokss.org.hk/tc 
• Target group: One-on-one consultation services, self-help courses and online workshops are offered to Hong Kong residents. 
• Language: Chinese 

HKYFG - Recharge Uself Early Identification and Intervention Programs for Young Caregivers

• Website: https://www.hkfygwellnessplus.org/recharge-uself-about
• Target group: Young carers to gain access to various online and offline activities to find suitable mental health support services
• Language: Chinese 

The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong - Counseline mobile app

• Website: https://www.mhahk.org.hk/index.php/service/promoedu/dce/counsellingapp/ 
• Target group: Individuals aiming to manage their emotions positively through the app's various functions, including direct counseling by professional social workers, mood tests, and mental health information.
• Language: Chinese 

Mind HK - Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) Service

• Website: https://www.iact.hk/
• Target group: Individuals aged 18-65 who are experiencing mild-moderate anxiety and depression or emotional distress. Individuals looking to receive short-term and remote support from trained well-being practitioners and learn tools for managing emotions
• Language: Chinese and English 

Jockey Club TourHeart+ Project - Chat with Boon

• Website: https://en.jcthplus.org/topics
• Target group:  Individuals to receive psychological support in an all-in-one online platform. Appropriate services will be recommended based on the online mental health assessment, such as chatbot, webinars, self-help courses and assistive learning groups. 
• Language: Chinese and English 

Taking care of your own mental health is not only important for your well-being, but it also enables you to provide better care for your loved one. By seeking help when needed, carers can better manage their stress, avoid burnout, and maintain a healthy balance in their lives. Remember, you are not alone in this journey, and there are resources available to help you navigate the challenges of caregiving.