The Action Alliance on Basic Education on Friday last week urged the government to improve measures to prevent adolescent suicide by conducting routine physical and mental health screenings to facilitate early intervention.
Young Taiwanese face mental health risks that have been worsening in scale and severity for nearly a decade, and advocates are right to sound the alarm. Ministry of Health and Welfare data show that annual reports of attempted suicides among the 15-to-24 age group have more than tripled since 2015, while the proportion of suicide deaths in the 12-to-17 age group has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past five years. Suicide is the second-biggest cause of death for Taiwanese teenagers.
A September survey by the Child Welfare League Foundation found that more than 22 percent of teenage respondents reported having suicidal thoughts. Among them, female students were disproportionately represented — 23.4 percent reported “moderately to extremely strong” suicidal ideation, compared with just 7 percent of males.
The reasons for the rise are debated, but evidence suggests an interlocking set of risks. Advocates have long pointed to academic pressure as the primary contributing factor.
A foundation survey released in February found that junior-high school students are overwhelmed by academic stress, with more than 50 percent worrying about their futures. Nearly half said that they feel immense pressure when making decisions about tertiary education or employment. However, perhaps the most concerning aspect is that just 46.6 percent felt they could discuss their problems with their families.
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Suicidology identified additional risk factors, including childhood adversity, bullying, emotional neglect, low self-esteem, hopelessness and a lack of social support.
Beneath all of this lies a near-universal experience among adolescents — constant exposure to social media. Local and global research shows that heavy social media use is commonplace and correlates strongly with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, particularly among teens.
Cultural stigma surrounding mental health remains a significant barrier as well, as it discourages students from seeking help, parents from acknowledging warning signs and schools from prioritizing resources.
Noa Wynn (“Strain from idea of invasion shows,” Nov. 23, page 8) wrote that Taiwan’s unique geopolitical situation is another factor weighing on the national psyche. Constant uncertainty about the nation’s future might intensify the already heavy pressure Taiwanese feel.
Despite these realities, the policy response has been reactive and inadequate.
The health ministry in July last year allocated NT$336 million (US$10.77 million) to provide three free mental health consultations for people aged 15 to 45, but more focus must be placed on the age groups most affected.
Since August last year, high-school students have been permitted to take three days of mental health leave annually with parental permission. However, a majority of students surveyed said they were unfamiliar with the rules for mental health leave, and about half of those who tried to use it said they encountered resistance from school staff or their own families.
Worse still, students are turning to artificial intelligence for emotional support, rather than counseling. This is not a sign of technological progress, but of institutional failure.
People are right to demand more comprehensive action. The longer Taiwan waits, the more young lives it puts at risk, but before the government can build an effective prevention system, it must first identify the root causes of the crisis.
Whether the primary driver is academic pressure, social media exposure, uncertainty, changing family dynamics or all of the above — policy would continue to be fragmented and reactive without a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.
The government should heed the alliance’s calls to expand routine mental health screenings in schools to catch early warning signs before they escalate. It should invest in widespread mental health education so students understand symptoms, resources and coping strategies. A joint effort is also required to dismantle stigma by normalizing mental health discussions in classrooms and at home.
Families need support to recognize the signs of emotional distress, and help to set aside generational differences that might prevent them from communicating openly and allowing their children to ask for help without shame.
Schools must continue to ensure that trained counselors are available so students have a human connection — not an algorithm — to turn to when they are in crisis.
The data tell a clear story — an entire generation is suffering in silence. Young people are the future of this nation and Taiwan cannot afford to leave them behind.
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