Parachute's blogParachute's blog

Miscarriage Support in Hong Kong

Miscarriage is a heartbreaking experience that affects many women and their families around the world. It is estimated that one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet the topic remains largely taboo and often goes unacknowledged. As a result, many women who experience miscarriage may feel isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn for help. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to raise awareness about miscarriage and improve support services for those who have suffered a pregnancy loss. This article will explore miscarriage support in Hong Kong. By shedding light on this often-overlooked topic, we hope to help reduce the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss and provide valuable information and resources to those who need it most.

1. Caritas Miscarriage Support Centre

The Caritas Family services centre has a special unit dedicated to miscarriage support. They aim to provide comprehensive care for individuals and couples who experience miscarriage and help recover from the complex waves of emotions. Their services include peer support groups for grieving parents, grief counselling services and sex therapy for couples trying to rekindle intimacy after a miscarriage.

You can reach them either in person, via phone or e-mail:

2. Social Welfare Department

In Hong Kong, The Social welfare department (SWD) is a non-governmental organisation that provides couples with services such as counselling and help groups. For parents undergoing miscarriage, the “Integrated Family Services Centre” (IFSC) unit is a community-based services centre offering family support and counselling. Their competent healthcare providers conduct interviews, home visits. In case the requirement of the grieving parents are beyond the scope of the department, they make referrals and direct the couple to places where they can get the help they rightfully need and deserve.

The following link directs you to a page with the addresses, telephone numbers and operating hours of the IFSCs located all over the city: https://www.swd.gov.hk/storage/asset/section/228/en/IFSC_ISC_address_list_eng_March_2023.pdf You can visit in person and ask for the services needed.

You can also contact them via:

3. Resources Counselling

“Resource” is a multicultural organisation that offers counselling in at least 10 different languages and have experts specially in the fields of depression and bereavement, relationship turbulence and grief. What makes them special is their “sliding fee scale” that assesses the background of the client before setting a price to make counselling affordable for all.

More information can be found on the website. They can be reached via:

4. Hope Hong Kong

Hope Hong Kong had its beginnings in 2013 when Jenny Ostling and Laura Weeks decided to start a support group for people suffering from miscarriage and fertility challenges in Hong Kong. Both women had struggled with infertility and pregnancy loss themselves and knew how lonely and difficult it could be. Not finding any other Hong Kong-based support groups, they started Hope Hong Kong as an online forum where women could ask questions and seek advice from others on the same journey. The organization now offers both online resources and in-person meet-ups. You can visit the website here: https://www.hopehongkong.org/

Hope Hong Kong Private Facebook Group for people struggling with fertility & loss in Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hopehongkong/

5. Joint Dynamics Evolve – Monthly Loss Support Group

Hosted by Kathryn Gale, Registered Psychologist, this small and intimate workshop (limited to 6 people/couple) offers support to help you to feel connected, heard and know you’re not alone on this journey. The workshop is free of charge. 

Next date: July 6, 2023 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm, at Joint Dynamics Evolve, Central

To register, email kathryn.gale@jointdynamics.com.hk

6. (Chinese) Jockey Club Perinatal Bereavement Care Project

Jockey Club Perinatal Bereavement Care Project賽馬會「小足・福」失胎支援計劃 is jointly collaborated by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Family Wellness Centre and Caritas-Hong Kong Grace Port-Caritas Miscarriage Support Centre.

The project envisions to develop seamless integrated care for the bereaved couples from hospitals to the community with online and in-person support. It aims to render holistic psychosocial support for bereaved couples to go through grief over pregnancy loss.

Website available in Traditional Chinese: https://www.jcperinatal-bc.hk/

7. Alli Ruttger – Psychotherapy

Alli Ruttger offers in-person and online psychotherapy in Hong Kong. She is professionally trained in Canada. She specifically works with the effects of relational trauma, significant loss and destabilizing stress, all of which are pertinent during a miscarriage. She charges HKD1300 for a 60 minute session, HKD1650 for a 75-minute session and HKD1950 for a 90-minute session.

The following website allows you to book a free 20-minute consultation with her:

https://www.alliruttger.com/book-online-therapy-hongkong

Alli can also be reached via:

  • Address: Focus Psychological Enrichment Centre, Sheung Wan (MTR Exit B), Des Voeux Road, Loon Kee Building 1206
  • Whatsapp: +852 9515 9116
  • E-mail: hello@alliruttger.com

Conclusion

Experiencing a miscarriage can be a traumatic event, so it is important to ensure that the woman receives the emotional, mental, and physical support they need. At Parachute, we hope to break down the stigma surrounding miscarriage, shed light on available resources so no woman has to suffer in silence. 

Sanchal Sanchayyan

Hello! I am Sanchal, a Hong Kong-Indian Medical graduate from HKU. My aim is to utilize my medical training and knowledge to produce bite-sized, well-researched articles to help parents make informed decisions. I am an avid reader, writer and traveller and hope to make a positive impact to thousands of lives in the decades to come!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

@parachute on Instagram
[insta-gallery id="1"]

Press ESC to close

Miscarriage is a heartbreaking experience that affects many women and their families around the world. It is estimated that one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet the topic remains largely taboo and often goes unacknowledged. As a result, many women who experience miscarriage may feel isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn for help. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to raise awareness about miscarriage and improve support services for those who have suffered a pregnancy loss. This article will explore miscarriage support in Hong Kong. By shedding light on this often-overlooked topic, we hope to help reduce the stigma surrounding pregnancy loss and provide valuable information and resources to those who need it most.

1. Caritas Miscarriage Support Centre

The Caritas Family services centre has a special unit dedicated to miscarriage support. They aim to provide comprehensive care for individuals and couples who experience miscarriage and help recover from the complex waves of emotions. Their services include peer support groups for grieving parents, grief counselling services and sex therapy for couples trying to rekindle intimacy after a miscarriage.

You can reach them either in person, via phone or e-mail:

2. Social Welfare Department

In Hong Kong, The Social welfare department (SWD) is a non-governmental organisation that provides couples with services such as counselling and help groups. For parents undergoing miscarriage, the “Integrated Family Services Centre” (IFSC) unit is a community-based services centre offering family support and counselling. Their competent healthcare providers conduct interviews, home visits. In case the requirement of the grieving parents are beyond the scope of the department, they make referrals and direct the couple to places where they can get the help they rightfully need and deserve.

The following link directs you to a page with the addresses, telephone numbers and operating hours of the IFSCs located all over the city: https://www.swd.gov.hk/storage/asset/section/228/en/IFSC_ISC_address_list_eng_March_2023.pdf You can visit in person and ask for the services needed.

You can also contact them via:

3. Resources Counselling

“Resource” is a multicultural organisation that offers counselling in at least 10 different languages and have experts specially in the fields of depression and bereavement, relationship turbulence and grief. What makes them special is their “sliding fee scale” that assesses the background of the client before setting a price to make counselling affordable for all.

More information can be found on the website. They can be reached via:

4. Hope Hong Kong

Hope Hong Kong had its beginnings in 2013 when Jenny Ostling and Laura Weeks decided to start a support group for people suffering from miscarriage and fertility challenges in Hong Kong. Both women had struggled with infertility and pregnancy loss themselves and knew how lonely and difficult it could be. Not finding any other Hong Kong-based support groups, they started Hope Hong Kong as an online forum where women could ask questions and seek advice from others on the same journey. The organization now offers both online resources and in-person meet-ups. You can visit the website here: https://www.hopehongkong.org/

Hope Hong Kong Private Facebook Group for people struggling with fertility & loss in Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hopehongkong/

5. Joint Dynamics Evolve – Monthly Loss Support Group

Hosted by Kathryn Gale, Registered Psychologist, this small and intimate workshop (limited to 6 people/couple) offers support to help you to feel connected, heard and know you’re not alone on this journey. The workshop is free of charge. 

Next date: July 6, 2023 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm, at Joint Dynamics Evolve, Central

To register, email kathryn.gale@jointdynamics.com.hk

6. (Chinese) Jockey Club Perinatal Bereavement Care Project

Jockey Club Perinatal Bereavement Care Project賽馬會「小足・福」失胎支援計劃 is jointly collaborated by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Family Wellness Centre and Caritas-Hong Kong Grace Port-Caritas Miscarriage Support Centre.

The project envisions to develop seamless integrated care for the bereaved couples from hospitals to the community with online and in-person support. It aims to render holistic psychosocial support for bereaved couples to go through grief over pregnancy loss.

Website available in Traditional Chinese: https://www.jcperinatal-bc.hk/

7. Alli Ruttger – Psychotherapy

Alli Ruttger offers in-person and online psychotherapy in Hong Kong. She is professionally trained in Canada. She specifically works with the effects of relational trauma, significant loss and destabilizing stress, all of which are pertinent during a miscarriage. She charges HKD1300 for a 60 minute session, HKD1650 for a 75-minute session and HKD1950 for a 90-minute session.

The following website allows you to book a free 20-minute consultation with her:

https://www.alliruttger.com/book-online-therapy-hongkong

Alli can also be reached via:

Conclusion

Experiencing a miscarriage can be a traumatic event, so it is important to ensure that the woman receives the emotional, mental, and physical support they need. At Parachute, we hope to break down the stigma surrounding miscarriage, shed light on available resources so no woman has to suffer in silence. 

Sanchal Sanchayyan

Hello! I am Sanchal, a Hong Kong-Indian Medical graduate from HKU. My aim is to utilize my medical training and knowledge to produce bite-sized, well-researched articles to help parents make informed decisions. I am an avid reader, writer and traveller and hope to make a positive impact to thousands of lives in the decades to come!