Shekou Legal Center Mental Health Opening


David Ho   |   October 10, 2020

SHEKOU  Foreign Legal Assistance Center, said to be the first public legal service platform for expatriates in Guangdong Province, opened in Shekou, Nanshan District, on Thursday, September 24th. The center, managed by the Shekou Subdistrict Office and Shenzhen Municipal Justice Bureau, will offer nonprofit legal consultation, legal aid, notarization, and tax and visa consultation services to expatriates in the city. 

In addition, beginning in October the Center will provide free mental health counseling services for foreign residents via professional counselors from Shenzhen Chengmei International Medical Clinic

Free Mental Health Services as provided by professional counselors staffed by Shenzhen Chengmei International Clinic

The Center is located on the first floor of Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), neighboring the Administration Service Hall of the Shekou Subdistrict Office. It is an expansion of the free legal consulting program of Shekou MSCE that was initiated a year ago. It has invited 18 professional lawyers to provide legal services. “The lawyers major in different fields and are proficient in foreign languages. They will help expats better understand local laws and regulations. Additionally, the center will provide a chance for lawyers to practice their expertise in the expat community,” Cao Hailei, Party chief of Shenzhen Lawyers’ Association, said at an interview. 

Gannet Wystix, an American living in Shekou, said many legal challenges faced by expatriates will now be made simpler thanks to the consulting teams in the center that are ready to serve and offer help. “It will make it easier for people in disagreement who need mediation for things such as labor and rental disputes. It makes expats feel not alone when facing law-related problems,” said Wystix. 

The foreign-related notarization service will be handled by staff from Qianhai Notary Office. The nine categories of notarization cover many aspects of expats and will benefit international schools, foreign-related companies and residents. 

Bacem Sadda, a Tunisian who is enrolled in the post-doctorate program at Shenzhen No. 8 Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, said the center will be very helpful for expats when it comes to employment and renting an apartment. 

As far as the mental health counseling center, services will be provided by Adam Rose, a professional mental health counselor from the United States. 

Detailed information regarding Mental Health Services posted in the Center.

Mental Health Counseling Services provided:

  1. Individual, Marriage, and Family Counseling; depression, anxiety, burnout, addiction, anger management, impulse control, interpersonal and family relational difficulties, sleep difficulties, loneliness, and other stress-related conditions. 
  2. Support for Expat Cultural Adjustment, such as challenges related to living in foreign countries, life or job transition, cultural dysphoria, language barriers, differences in cultural expectations, and related topics. 

In addition, Shenzhen Chengmei International Medical Clinic, located in Nanshan, has a medical team headed by Dr. Frank Ho, a Chinese-American born and raised in the United States who received his medical degree at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. Medical services provided include general internal medicine, lung/breathing problems, sleep difficulties, and health-management. As such, expats can freely communicate their medical needs via English. 

Shekou is home to 8,600 expatriates from more than 116 countries, according to statistics from Shekou Subdistrict Office. There are nearly 30,000 expatriates permanently living in Shenzhen and the city receives nearly 2 million foreign tourists a year.

Scheduling mental health appointments at the Center:

These appointments can be scheduled in advance every month on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 3:00 to 5:20 p.m. (Specific appointment times will be provided in advance by the online appointment system).

  • Chinese Name: Shenzhen Chengmei International Clinic 深圳成美港湾诊所
  • Address: Hisense Building, Floor 2, Suite 201, 1777 Chuangye Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen  深圳南山区粤海街道创业路1777号海信南方大厦201
  • E-maill: [email protected]
  • Contact Phone: 0755-86961639