Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme: Does it cover mental illnesses? Understand the causes and treatment methods

In 2023, everyone hopes to be physically healthy, but have you overlooked the importance of maintaining good mental health? Mental illness is becoming more common among people in Hong Kong, with an average of 1 in 7 people suffering from mental disorders or illnesses¹. According to surveys conducted by the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and Harvard University, depression was the second most important disease in 2020, just behind heart disease². In this article, we will learn about mental illness and how to cope with it.

Do you know what are some causes of mental illness?

Today, we often find ourselves in very fast-paced working environments. Coupled together with the various life pressures that we face; these situations can cause various mental and psychological problems. There can be negative impacts on our families and even society if we do not handle such problems properly.

The following three factors are some of the key causes of mental illness.

1. Physiological factors: Having poor physical health can affect one’s emotions. If you continue to feel down over a long period of time with no improvement, there is a possibility that you may develop a mental illness.

2. Genetic factors: Some mental illnesses may be caused by genetics. Some examples of mental illnesses that may be caused by genetic reasons are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder³.

3. Psychological and social environmental factors: Experiencing conflicts, crises and trauma could lead to mental illness or even post-traumatic stress disorder.

Common types of psychological or mental illnesses:

Depression

Depression is a common mild mental illness, in which one’s emotions are impaired, which causes physiological and psychological imbalances, sustained low mood, loss of interest or motivation in things, negative thoughts, which also affects their normal social life. The main causes of depression are genetics and stress from external circumstances. Under the situation when the brain is unable to cope with external stressors (such as unemployment, loss of a loved one, or major life changes), it will be more prone to depression⁴.

Depression is generally divided into three stages.

• Early-stage depression: Also known as mild depression, patients often experience emotional decline over a short period of time and do not have any interest in anything.

• Moderate depression symptoms: It is difficult for the brain to concentrate, but the patient can still manage basic life and work.

• Severe depression symptoms: Some patients may experience insomnia for a long period of time, and some may even think about suicide.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by repetitive actions, such as washing hands repeatedly and constantly double-checking things. In serious cases, when patients experience OCD symptoms, such as compulsively generating a certain thought, it can cause mental tension which could affect social interaction. The causes of OCD are still uncertain, but it is generally believed to be related to psychological factors and one’s personality. For patients who experience mild symptoms of OCD, they can engage in self-treatment by doing activities to relax their mind such as exercise, meditation, and yoga. However, for severe cases of OCD, diagnosis and treatment by a psychiatrist is essential.

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder, also known as anxiety neurosis, causes one to feel anxious, nervous, fear and palpitations. Some common causes of anxiety disorder are generally related to heredity, personality, or having experienced life changing events. Patients who experience severe anxiety disorder may also suffer from other mental illnesses, such as OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you suspect that you may have anxiety disorder, it is ideal if you can consult a psychiatrist for treatment methods and to get a professional diagnosis.

Mental illness has a significant impact on individuals and their lives. The number of people suffering from depression worldwide is also increasing. When helping those with mental illnesses, it is important to not only provide them with the emotional support they need but also practical medical support.

Two methods to treat mental illness:

Psychological therapy

Both private psychiatric clinics and public hospital psychiatric departments have professional psychologists who provide psychiatric diagnoses or psychiatric tests. These psychologists helps patients to make changes to their psychological behaviour and help them to rebuild their damaged mental health.

Pharmacological treatment

Psychological therapy is often accompanied by pharmacological treatment, which can effectively help patients regulate their mental symptoms such as excessive depression, anxiety and hallucinations. Psychologists give patients medications based on their mental condition, while ensuring that the treatment does not have a large impact on the patient’s intelligence and consciousness so that they are able to engage in normal social activities. If you have questions about the treatment of mental illness, do consult your doctor for professional advice.

Although public hospital psychiatric departments usually have lower fees, their resources may be scarce, which could lead to long waiting times, exacerbating the patient’s condition. One may then consider going to private hospitals for faster appointments and better medical environments, but this comes with expensive medical bills. The cost of treating mental illness is a significant amount for many. Some medical insurance, such as the VHIS voluntary medical insurance, allows you to claim the medical expenses incurred in psychiatric hospitalization in Hong Kong under the standard plan. For example, you can enjoy a compensation limit of up to HKD 30,000 for each policy.

What is VHIS for Mental Illness?

VHIS is a voluntary health insurance scheme launched by the Hong Kong government on April 1, 2019. It offers the following benefits for patients receiving treatment for mental illness in hospitals in Hong Kong:

• Most insurance plans do not cover treatment for mental illness, but VHIS covers eligible fees for psychiatric treatment during hospitalization in Hong Kong, as recommended by a specialist.

• Mental illness does not have a specific age of onset. Traditional insurance plans typically only accept individuals under the age of 65, but VHIS accepts individuals from 15 days old to 80 years old (actual age) and guarantees coverage up to the age of 100 (actual age), providing comprehensive coverage for your medical expenses in your later years.

• VHIS includes coverage for psychiatric treatment, with an annual limit of HKD 30,000 for psychiatric treatment. Even if the compensation limit has been reached, the coverage limit will be reset to HKD 30,000 in the next policy year, allowing patients to face possible medical expenses year after year.

Mental illness may be closer to us than we think. It is important to stay financially covered for mental illness.