Officiating at the JC JoyAge repurpose phase launch ceremony were Dr Libby Lee, Under Secretary for Health of the HKSAR Government (centre); Mr Bernard Chan, Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); Professor Vivian Yam, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Innovation Centre) (Interim) of The University of Hong Kong (2nd left); Dr Lam Ching-choi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health (1st left); and Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Elderly Commission and Convenor of the Advisory Committee of JC JoyAge (1st right).
A survey found that about one in seven of Hong Kong's population aged 16 to 75 suffers from anxiety, depression or other common mood disorders. In response to this societal need, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has approved cumulative funding of HK$678 million in total through its Charities' Trust to support JC JoyAge, partnering The University Hong Kong and 18 NGOs operating older adult and mental health service. The project aims to expand its community-based mental health support service to a primary-care level, benefiting a wider range of age groups.
The announcement was made in a launch ceremony at The University of Hong Kong's Rayson Huang Theatre on 27 May 2025. Officiating guests included Professor Vivian Yam, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Innovation Centre) (Interim) of The University of Hong Kong; Dr Libby Lee, Under Secretary for Health of the HKSAR Government; Bernard Chan, Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Dr Lam Ching-choi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health; and Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Elderly Commission and Convenor of the Advisory Committee of JC JoyAge.
Initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust since 2016, JC JoyAge has addressed the social problem of elderly depression through a cross-sectoral community support network, enhancing the capacity of professionals and caregivers while raising awareness of elderly mental health. Through collaborating with District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) across all 18 districts of Hong Kong, the project has established an integrated service model covering more than 70% of service units providing relevant services. The project has also trained social workers and young-old volunteers as "Peer Supporters", to deliver preventive service and interventions based on individuals' depression risk level and symptom severity.
Building on this success and to address evolving mental health needs, JC JoyAge embarked on a new three-year phase in 2024. While continuing to provide existing services to the elderly through DECCs and ICCMWs across the territory, it is now expanding its community-based support services in a primary-care setting. Other key components are:
- Primary Care Collaboration: partners Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre (DHC), Southern DHC, and Sai Kung District Health Centre Express (DHCE) to establish the "Jockey Club JoyAge Hub" and introduces "Primary Care Physician Co-Care Services" with designated general practitioners and family doctors.
- Expanded Age Coverage: extends services to from individuals aged 60 or above to those aged 45 and above.
- Enhanced Referral Mechanism: collaborates with Hospital Authority Clusters to refer stable and wait-listed psychiatric outpatient cases to community service units or designated DHCs/DHCE.
The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, stated that the Health Bureau has been committed to promoting the district-based primary healthcare service delivery model, underscoring the equal importance of mental and physical health. The JC JoyAge Project has further complemented the Government's effort in primary mental healthcare services, delivering timely support to citizens in need and strengthening the synergy between mental health services and primary healthcare. The Health Bureau looked forward to collaborating with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and stakeholders across the community to further propel the development of both primary healthcare and mental health.
This project's new phase aims to provide services to over 13,000 at-risk and depressed elderly and middle-aged people, with 90 service users referred to designated primary-care physicians for medical support. In addition, the project will train more than 70 social workers through professional workshops to enhance their mental health knowledge and competency. To strengthen the community network, the project will engage over 480 Peer Supporters to provide community support services and conduct over 1,500 public education programmes to enhance mental-health literacy, thereby building a healthier community.
JC JoyAge
In the face of stress, deteriorating health, lack of social engagement and other challenges, elderly and middle-aged persons are more susceptible to emotional distress, which affects their mental health andcauses higher risk of depression and more serious illness conditions. To address the issue, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust initiated and funded the "JC JoyAge" Project.
Through cross-sectoral collaboration, JC JoyAge provides a community-based support network for our older adults to enhance their resilience in facing the challenges of ageing. The service connects District Elderly Community Centres ("DECCs") and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness ("ICCMWs") to establish a collaborative and integrated model to render standardised prevention and timely intervention services to those with depression and depressive symptoms according to their level of risk and symptoms severity, etc. From 2024 onwards, JC JoyAge partnered with three District Health Centres / District Health Centre Express to strengthen the provision of mental-health support at the primary care level to a wider age group of people aged 45 or above.
To learn more about the project, please visit www.jcjoyage.hk.
