American International Journal of Social Science

Are Rights-Based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Policy Evident in the Hong Kong Chinese Context?
Wai-ming Ho

Abstract
In spite of the pervasive proclamation of children’s rights in child policy and services worldwide, these rights are hardly witnessed in child and adolescent mental health policies and services in Chinese societies. While western counterparts like the United States and the United Kingdom are progressing towards upholding the rights of children in the area of mental health by developing child-focused, family-centered and community-based mental health services, there is a dearth of studies on this subject in Hong Kong. In this paper, a critical examination of children’s rights in the international development of child and adolescent mental health policy and services is conducted. Implications that Chinese societies like Hong Kong need to similarly strive for a rights-based child and adolescent mental health policy and services are discussed.

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