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Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories

Eva Chung Orcid Logo, Gigi Lam

Journal of Public Mental Health, Pages: 1 - 14

Swansea University Author: Eva Chung Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1108/jpmh-09-2025-0143

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the efficacy of mental health policies implemented in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify strategic priorities for advancing policy and practice in the post-pandemic period. Design/methodology/approach: Using a scoping review methodology, this s...

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Published in: Journal of Public Mental Health
ISSN: 1746-5729 2042-8731
Published: Emerald Publishing Limited 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71274
first_indexed 2026-01-19T11:08:47Z
last_indexed 2026-01-20T05:31:19Z
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spelling 2026-01-19T11:59:11.7738526 v2 71274 2026-01-19 Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories 24f4ade6abb5abebab3a9b3838466101 0000-0003-4054-0645 Eva Chung Eva Chung true false 2026-01-19 HSOC Purpose: This study aims to explore the efficacy of mental health policies implemented in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify strategic priorities for advancing policy and practice in the post-pandemic period. Design/methodology/approach: Using a scoping review methodology, this study synthesises existing literature on mental health challenges experienced in Hong Kong during the pandemic. The analysis is structured around the health policy triangle framework, which examines policy content, context, actors and processes to evaluate current mental health strategies and guide future policy development. Findings: The review identifies a broad spectrum of pandemic-related mental health risk factors, including the characteristics of the outbreak, enforcement of protective measures and social distancing, diminished social capital, restricted access to face-to-face healthcare, media-driven anxiety and fears of infection or transmission. While the government assumed a central role in implementing public health measures, public opinion largely attributed successful pandemic management to community-led initiatives. These findings emphasise the need for mental health policies that are inclusive, adaptive and grounded in community engagement, alongside practice trajectories that prioritise accessibility, responsiveness and integration of community-based approaches. Originality/value: This study adopts a policy-focused lens by applying the health policy triangle framework to examine mental health governance in Hong Kong. It integrates empirical evidence from the pandemic with policy analysis, offering insights into policy directions and practice trajectories that can strengthen mental health systems in the post-COVID-19 context. Journal Article Journal of Public Mental Health 0 1 14 Emerald Publishing Limited 1746-5729 2042-8731 COVID-19, Mental health, Post-COVID-19 era, Hong Kong 12 1 2026 2026-01-12 10.1108/jpmh-09-2025-0143 Literature Review COLLEGE NANME Health and Social Care School COLLEGE CODE HSOC Swansea University Not Required 2026-01-19T11:59:11.7738526 2026-01-19T11:06:00.4151570 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Therapies Eva Chung 0000-0003-4054-0645 1 Gigi Lam 2 71274__36045__9eb9ab34f09a4a428a22455ac787cc8d.pdf 71274.AAM.pdf 2026-01-19T11:55:00.9796693 Output 800283 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
spellingShingle Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
Eva Chung
title_short Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
title_full Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
title_fullStr Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
title_full_unstemmed Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
title_sort Post-COVID-19 mental health challenges in Hong Kong: a review of policy and practice trajectories
author_id_str_mv 24f4ade6abb5abebab3a9b3838466101
author_id_fullname_str_mv 24f4ade6abb5abebab3a9b3838466101_***_Eva Chung
author Eva Chung
author2 Eva Chung
Gigi Lam
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Public Mental Health
container_volume 0
container_start_page 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1746-5729
2042-8731
doi_str_mv 10.1108/jpmh-09-2025-0143
publisher Emerald Publishing Limited
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Therapies{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Therapies
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Purpose: This study aims to explore the efficacy of mental health policies implemented in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify strategic priorities for advancing policy and practice in the post-pandemic period. Design/methodology/approach: Using a scoping review methodology, this study synthesises existing literature on mental health challenges experienced in Hong Kong during the pandemic. The analysis is structured around the health policy triangle framework, which examines policy content, context, actors and processes to evaluate current mental health strategies and guide future policy development. Findings: The review identifies a broad spectrum of pandemic-related mental health risk factors, including the characteristics of the outbreak, enforcement of protective measures and social distancing, diminished social capital, restricted access to face-to-face healthcare, media-driven anxiety and fears of infection or transmission. While the government assumed a central role in implementing public health measures, public opinion largely attributed successful pandemic management to community-led initiatives. These findings emphasise the need for mental health policies that are inclusive, adaptive and grounded in community engagement, alongside practice trajectories that prioritise accessibility, responsiveness and integration of community-based approaches. Originality/value: This study adopts a policy-focused lens by applying the health policy triangle framework to examine mental health governance in Hong Kong. It integrates empirical evidence from the pandemic with policy analysis, offering insights into policy directions and practice trajectories that can strengthen mental health systems in the post-COVID-19 context.
published_date 2026-01-12T05:33:42Z
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score 11.09611

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