As part of the local community, our team in Hong Kong has been actively monitoring the situation after the fire and is aware of the immediately and longer-term mental health needs in the society. Therefore, the team has initiated psychosocial support and partnered with local organisations to provide mental health assistance and essential supplies to migrant caregivers affected by the incident. We are also strengthening support for caregivers and community support responders, sharing mental health resources via social media with all walks of life in the community, while continuing to assess whether there are any unmet medical needs.
As of 14 December, MSF has carried out 13 response activities since the fire, including 4 mental health group sessions, 2 psychoeducation sessions, accumulated over 33 hours of post-disaster response, supported around 489 people affected, and distributed over 1,000 copies of printed mental health information materials to help the community cope with post-disaster stress.
MSF continues to strengthen psychosocial support under our “Caring for the Carers” approach by training trainers to deliver psychoeducation and partnering with local organisations to provide emotional regulation and basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for volunteers, social workers, and migrant caregivers, helping them care for themselves while supporting survivors.
On December 13 and 14, we organised activities including a psychoeducation session for 15 volunteers covering emotional regulation, recognising trauma-related stress and grief, and basic principles of PFA; and a session for 40 migrant caregivers to help them manage stress and build support networks.
We believe caring for caregivers is an essential part of post-disaster recovery. MSF will continue to strengthen PFA capacity and establish referral pathways and networks.
Our team has expanded our psychosocial support after the fire and is working closely with local organisations to strengthen care for caregivers and community support workers.
On December 2, MSF sent a team of registered psychologists, social workers, and counselors to run group support sessions for staff of local social service organisations, and among them, more than half are social workers. These sessions provided a safe space for participants to share their feelings and relieve stress. Many of these staff members are themselves residents of Tai Po or work in the area, meaning they might be also living with the trauma caused by the fire while continuing to stay near the affected zone to support others. Caregivers often put others’ needs before their own, which may make it more difficult to seek help. Through company and listening, we aim to help them take good care for themselves as well.
We will also share mental health resources on our social media channels to support teachers, caregivers, and community members in coping with the aftermath of the fire and managing their stress better.
Based on our initial assessment, MSF Hong Kong observed that certain groups within the affected community, such as migrant caregivers, face barriers to accessing timely mental health support following the incident. In addition, teams tirelessly responding to the fire and its aftermath, including frontline rescue workers and service teams at the temporary shelters, also require attention to their psychological well-being.
This tragedy not only impacted residents of Tai Po, through extensive media coverage and online information, has also triggered emotional distress among the wider public. It is equally important to strengthen public awareness of mental health and stress management, particularly among caregivers and teachers, who play an important role in assessing and responding to the aftermath of the fire.
We continue to identify any unmet healthcare needs where we could provide relevant services to support the emergency response. On 30 November, MSF teams carried out the following activities:
- Several MSF teams comprising registered psychologists and trained psychological first aid providers conducted outreach in Tai Po, Sha Tin, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Jordan to offer immediate mental health support to migrant caregivers in their home languages. Language barriers create hurdles for caregivers to access services or resources that are primarily available in Cantonese and English. To address this, our teams assessed gaps in psychological support within these communities and distributed mental health leaflets in Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in languages familiar to the caregivers.
- During outreach, our teams observed that some migrant caregivers were deeply distressed after losing contact with friends trapped in the fire. Others continued caring for employers and their families at temporary shelters, leaving little space or time to process their own emotions. Migrant caregivers outside Tai Po also expressed concerns about not knowing how to evacuate safely in the event of a severe fire.
- "After major stressful events or disasters, people usually focus on meeting immediate practical needs during the first few days. However, once these needs are addressed, more post-traumatic emotional reactions often emerge in the following days or weeks. It is essential to closely monitor the psychological well-being of those affected by the fire. Migrant caregivers may also hesitate to seek mental health support due to concerns about mental health stigma or their employers' perceptions. This situation warrants serious attention," said Dr. Yim, clinical psychologist and member of the outreach team.
- Additionally, through partner organisations, we donated essential items, including underwear, sanitary pads, hand sanitisers, and wet tissues, to migrant caregivers affected by the fire, helping to meet their immediate needs.
During the outreach, MSF teams observed diverse groups in need of psychological support, with some requiring longer-term assistance. We will continue reaching out to local organisations to ensure relevant support is provided when unmet healthcare needs arise.
On 27 November, the day after the incident, MSF Hong Kong deployed staff to Tai Po and has been actively engaging with local partners and response organisations to assess whether there are gaps in medical support. As an international medical humanitarian organisation, MSF bases all its actions on independent assessments of actual needs and adheres to the principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality. At this stage, Hong Kong’s healthcare system remains fully functional, and no significant unmet medical needs have been identified. However, MSF continues to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to act should needs arise.
Our team has also observed that, beyond immediate medical care, affected individuals may face both immediate and longer-term mental health needs. We are planning our next steps to ensure appropriate assistance can be provided when needed.
Exposure to distressing news and images can lead to feelings of anxiety, confusion, or unease. These reactions are normal and understandable. If you feel emotionally affected, consider taking a break from your phone, practicing deep breathing, and seeking professional help. The following organisations offer support:
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Hong Kong Red Cross
“Shall We Talk” Psychological Support Service
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Call or send messages to WhatsApp
5164 5040
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| The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong | Hotline: 2353 0029 |
| Hospital Authority 24-hour Mental Health Advisory Service |
Hotline: 2466 7350 |
MSF will continue to monitor developments closely and provide medical humanitarian assistance should significant unmet needs arise. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and humanitarian principles, ensuring that everyone regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation has access to the care they need.
Since 27 November, MSF has mobilised our teams to provide support to the people affected by the Tai Po fire. We are utilising our own resources to assist those impacted by the incident. MSF Hong Kong is not accepting designated donations for the Tai Po fire response. If you receive any suspicious messages or calls, do not disclose any personal information or make any transfers. For inquiries, please contact the MSF office directly.
