Echoing the Government's initiative to strengthen community support for mental health, as stated in the 2023 Policy Address, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), together with the Auxiliary Medical Service, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, SideBySide, and The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, established the “City Companion” Community Alliance on Promoting Mental Health (the Alliance). Using Kowloon City District as the first pilot, the Alliance aims to provide a range of mental health support services to enhance understanding and awareness among residents in the district of mental health issues.

With Kowloon City district as its first pilot, the Alliance will focus particularly on vulnerable groups, such as older people, low-income families, persons undergoing mental recovery and students. Through collaboration among Alliance members, it will organise diverse community promotions and school-based education events to raise public awareness of mental health first aid and to identify and help individuals in need of mental health support at an early stage. Leveraging technology to promote mental health, the Alliance will also enhance counselling services for vulnerable groups, providing all-round support for mental health to residents in Kowloon City District.

The members hope that the first pilot in Kowloon City will serve as a role model for other organisations and encourage them to offer similar support in other districts across Hong Kong in the future, thus promoting the implementation of all-round mental health support throughout Hong Kong in the long run.