[New Taipei City, Taiwan] –The suicide rate among the youth population aged 15 to 24 in Taiwan has increased by 35% over the past four years. To actively address youth mental health issues, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih led a municipal team today (23rd) to visit the Australian headquarters of Orygen, a leading authority in youth mental health. The New Taipei City Government Department of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the organization, obtaining the authorization to translate the “#chatsafe: A young person’s guide to communicating safely online about self-harm and suicide” for introduction to Taiwan. Since its launch last December, it has accumulated over 5,000 users domestically.
Hou Yu-ih pointed out that in addition to introducing international resources to accompany the social media generation in facing online risks, the city government has long protected youth mental health through various forms. For instance, the Department of Health and the Department of Education jointly hold campus forums using an interactive lecture model, making mental health advocacy more relevant to students’ needs and enhancing their emotional awareness. The Department of Health also collaborates with the Family Education Center to conduct Social Emotional Learning (SEL) themed lectures, hoping to improve parents’ positive parenting and companionship skills.
Hou Yu-ih stated that after deeply exchanging New Taipei City’s recent experiences in youth mental health services with Orygen, he invited Orygen team members to visit Taiwan in October to serve as keynote speakers for the International Mental Health Symposium hosted by New Taipei City. They will share how they promote early intervention, de-stigmatization, and the creation of a “help-seeking friendly” environment to provide more mental health support for youth.
Orygen was commissioned by the Australian government to establish the National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health, while also collaborating with the University of Melbourne and Victoria University. In addition to promoting #chatsafe—which was initiated by young people, edited after expert discussions, and adopted by 15 countries worldwide—the organization also provides medical care and short-to-medium-term residential treatment specifically for youth facing mental health issues. Its treatment and care model currently has 150 locations across Australia.
The New Taipei City Government Department of Health explained that the achievements of this visit to Australia will be incorporated as an important reference for the promotion and formulation of youth mental health policies in New Taipei City. It is hoped that through continuous international exchange and cooperation, the city can improve service quality in more forward-looking and innovative ways to resolve mental health challenges for more young people.
