The newly established “mental health leave” works on three levels: counseling, sociology and even philosophy.
Elementary and middle-school students often find going to the counselor’s office in school difficult because doing so is considered a social taboo, and therefore embarrassing. Students who are asked to visit school counselors are often assumed to have misbehaved in some way. Furthermore, students who struggle with mental health problems and other difficulties are unlikely to be proactive in seeking out help and support.
National Taiwan University (NTU) has now implemented its new system for requesting mental health leave in what is a positive and healthy move for students. The problems college students encounter in their daily lives, studies, relationships and careers all have a significant impact on their lives and well-being. While NTU students might excel in their studies, that does not mean they are more capable of dealing with mental pressure than others.
Mental health leave aims to encourage students to seek help — not devalue themselves for exposing their mental issues — and find a way toward recovery through self-disclosure.
As for professors who demand class attendance, the system now provides a viable and open way for students to take leave for any mental health issues they might be experiencing. It also gives professors a chance to counsel students and allow time for self-care.
A student’s mental well-being needs support from the entire school. A college student’s mental state would improve only if more people are devoted to the support system.
With more students possessing healthier minds, Taiwan would have an even brighter future for generations to come.
Chen Chi-nung is a political commentator.
Translated by Lee Chieh-yu
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS