The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the launch of the new Mental Health Support Program for Young People on Monday morning. The policy will come into effect on August 1.
The new scheme will offer three free psychological consultations to people aged 15 to 30. People can participate by scanning the QR code displayed at medical or psychological institutions. More than 300 institutions across Taiwan have joined the program so far, and that number is still increasing.
Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) says they hope the program will help identify people with a tendency for depression so they can be referred to a professional medical team for treatment.
Psychiatrist Teng Hui-wen (鄧惠文) says it can be difficult for young people to find their sense of personal identity in today's society and that counseling can help people to improve their self-awareness, deal with difficult emotions, and clarify their thoughts.
Hsueh says the program is expected to be implemented as a trial for one year and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If the results are good, expansion of the program will be considered.