TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced Thursday (Jan. 18) that as of the tally at the end of 2023, its mental health support program for young people served 17,000 individuals, with 33% of users assessed as high-risk and referred for medical treatment.
The project, launched last year, offers three free mental health counseling sessions for people aged 15 to 30. The ratio of male to female users stands at 1 to 2.7, mirroring global trends.
Those aged between 24 to 30 constitute the bulk, making up 66% of the total users.
The program has been successful, with a satisfaction rate of 96%. Furthermore, 95% of participants believe the counseling services were beneficial.
The initiative has spent about 50% of its budget, but even after its completion, young people will continue to receive counseling supported by other budget allocations.
Currently, 406 partner institutions nationwide contribute mental health services to the initiative, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and counseling psychologists.
In an effort to combat the stigma of mental health counseling, MOHW encourages young people in need to actively seek help.
The MOHW will continue this program, aiming to accumulate more psychological medical resources in a structured manner to serve young people in need.
The project has been in operation since Aug. 1 of last year, pushed forward through a collaborative effort by seven leading professional medical and psychological associations.