TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s police department has met with the Ministry of Health to discuss mental health issues after a report released in January revealed 22 suicides in the force over four years.
The National Police Agency said in a press release on Thursday (April 25) the meeting was also attended by the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, and counseling mechanisms for police officers were discussed. The agency said that staffers have been instructed to create a “culture of care” and an atmosphere where people help one another.
The meeting followed a report from the Control Yuan, Taiwan’s government auditor, which found mental healthcare in the police force was seriously lacking. The report described mental health education and traning in the police force as a formality, and said suicide prevention initiatives had not been implemented.
Immediately after the report was released, the police agency said it would launch an internal investigation into mental health among its staff.
The agency said that police no longer need to be referred to outside counseling by the police in-house mental health service, and can make appointments themselves. To improve confidentiality, police officers' names will no longer be used to label cases relating to mental health care, the agency said.
Meanwhile, the police agency said that in February a mental health expert from National Taiwan University Hospital was invited to speak to more than 1,600 staffers about suicide prevention. Managers were instructed to take charge of creating an environment that is positive for officers’ mental health, the agency said.
Those considering suicide should immediately call the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center at 1925, or Taiwan Lifeline International at 1995 (English and Chinese service available).
Foreign residents can also call the Community Services Center for urgent mental health advice (English and Chinese service available) on 02-2836-8134 during business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) and on 0932-594-578 after hours.
