TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is expanding its role in training psychiatric care professionals from Southeast Asia, highlighted at a symposium held on Wednesday in Kaohsiung.
Chen Po-hsi (陳柏熹), director-general of Taiwan’s Department of Mental Health, told CNA that countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have generally been slower to develop comprehensive mental health care systems than Taiwan. In recent years, Taiwan has provided training for personnel in the region, and the symposium focused on sharing common challenges faced by these countries.
Psychiatric care is a key component of mental health. It focuses not only on treatment of disorders but also on rehabilitation and overall well-being through a multidisciplinary, team-based approach, according to the Kaohsiung Clinical Psychologist Association.
This includes medication management by physicians or pharmacists, behavioral therapy, psychological therapy, family therapy conducted by social workers, environmental therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, occupational therapy, and patient nursing, among other methods.
Chen said many countries tend to overlook the impact of mental health issues on productivity and life expectancy. While depression and related disorders may present differently across countries, they remain significant challenges throughout Southeast Asia.
Mental health risks also extend beyond teenagers and children growing up in digitally driven environments, Chen noted, affecting adults as well. Unequal access to information allows individuals with greater knowledge and financial resources to leverage digital tools more effectively, widening opportunity gaps and increasing psychological pressures across society.
Another emerging concern, Chen said, is the impact of drugs on mental health and daily life, a major challenge for the future. Taiwan plans to strengthen collaboration with Southeast Asian countries to address these issues.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the initiative aims to improve mental health rehabilitation practices and medical management systems in the region. The program also seeks to build sustainable networks for regional cooperation, enhancing public mental health over the long term.
