Given the rising number of young people diagnosed with mental illnesses, the Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday launched a youth mental health support program, which, starting today, offers free counseling sessions.
National Health Insurance statistics showed that the number of people aged 15 to 30 who had been diagnosed with a mental illness increased from 221,000 in 2016 to about 292,000 in 2021, accounting for 4.8 percent and 7 percent respectively of the total number of people who sought medical treatment in those two years, the ministry said.
An analysis of the reasons these people had called the ministry’s free consultation hotline showed that about 70 percent were depressed due to family or relationship issues, the ministry said.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
A study published in the American Medical Association’s the JAMA Network journal last year showed that more than 50 percent of young people who were depressed did not seek help or receive treatment, citing “costs” and “not knowing where to seek assistance” as the main reasons, the Department of Mental Health said.
Local studies suggest that depression among young people had an incidence rate of 0.61 percent to 0.74 percent, and a prevalence rate of 0.46 percent to 0.59 percent, department Director Chen Liang-yu (陳亮妤) said.
While the numbers have been growing, only 40 percent sought medical treatment, which is a big concern, Chen said.
Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said that while the nation’s suicide rate has gradually declined, it has increased among young people.
The ministry launched the youth mental health support program to help identify people who tend to be depressed to help them find professional help, Hsueh said.
The one-year pilot program would be reviewed during the the next 12 months and assessed if it should be further expanded, he added.
The three key points of the program are to encourage young people to seek help, seek and recognize psychological counseling, and identify and refer high-risk cases for medical treatment, he said.
Eligible young people who need free counseling services can scan a QR code to find one of the more than 300 contracted clinics or healthcare facilities and make an appointment for a free session, she said.
Young people with depression are sometimes labeled as being “poor in handling stress” or “going through a rebellious phase,” and miss the opportunity to receive counseling or treatment, Chen said, adding that the program was launched to encourage them to seek help.
Psychologist Teng Hui-wen (鄧惠文) said that counseling can help young people develop self-awareness, let out their emotions, clarify their thoughts, and sometimes help them face and solve problems.
However, if they have a mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety disorder, they need to be referred to a professional for treatment, she said.
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