On Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, dozens of people will be hiking up Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail (象山步道) at the crack of dawn to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide in Taiwan.
According to the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, about 1.25 million people in the country suffer from mental health issues and around 13 percent of them have attempted suicide. The statistics are not as high as South Korea and Japan, but it goes to show that mental health is still a considerable problem in Taiwan.
The walk will start at 4am to symbolize the dark times that people with mental health issues go through and will end around sunrise at the summit, which will represent how there’s still hope for them. NOLA kitchen, a New Orleans-style restaurant located at the foot of the mountain, will open their doors at 8am to welcome hikers after the walk. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, mosquito repellent, a flashlight and raincoat if you plan to attend.
Photo: Dana Ter, Taipei Times
■ 4am on Sunday at Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail (象山步道). Admission is free. For more information, check: www.facebook.com/events/790825141050308
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