The objective of CoMHIP is to provide specialized social work intervention including casework, therapeutic and supportive group services to assist persons in the community with suspected mental health problems and / or their family members to deal with problems arising from their poor mental health conditions.

CoMHIP is characterized by the adoption of a multi-disciplinary and district-based approach in meeting the needs of those persons with suspected mental health problems living in the community.  To deliver this new service, the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Hospital Authority (HA) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work closely together and by involving such disciplines as social workers, medical officers and nurses.

This project is for people aged 15 or above with suspected mental health problems living in the community who is not an active case receiving any psychiatric services.  The common mental health problems of the target clients may include poor interpersonal relationship, prolonged sadness or social withdrawal, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendency, conduct misbehaviours or self-inflicting harm behaviors, etc.

There is one CoMHIP team operated by NGOs in each of SWD's 11 administrative districts.  These teams receive referrals from the respective district's Integrated Family Services Centres (IFSCs), Integrated Services Centres (ISCs) and Family and Child Protective Services Units (FCPSUs) and work closely with HA's Community Psychiatric Service (CPS) for needy cases.

CoMHIP Teams will receive appropriate referrals from IFSCs, ISCs and FCPSUs.  Depending on the case nature, CoMHIP Teams may either take over the whole case from referrers or render services together with the referrer on a shared basis.  For shared case, the IFSCs / ISCs / FCPSUs are expected to continue to attend to the clients' / other family members' welfare needs.  After assessment, CoMHIP teams would refer needy cases to CPS of HA for clinical assessment and necessary psychiatric treatment.

To ensure the smooth operation of CoMHIP, SWD will arrange regular meetings with CoMHIP Teams and HA's CPS of its seven clusters to resolve operational issues as well as to facilitate sharing on case handling.  Representatives from IFSCs / ISCs / FCPSUs concerned will also be invited to attend these meetings as and when required.