Defense minister responds to military mental health concerns

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Amid public concern over five self-harm incidents within Taiwan's military in just eight days, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng on Thursday (March 7) emphasized continued mental health support for military personnel.

Speaking in response to external skepticism over the adequacy of psychological counseling in the forces, Chiu stressed the ministry's ongoing efforts to assess and address factors including emotional well-being, job stress, and overall mental and physical health.

Chiu underscored that investigations into such cases do not differentiate between incidents occurring inside or outside military bases, related or unrelated to military service.

Factors like the person's mental state, debt issues, emotional factors, job stress, and any violation of rules are examined. If no rules were breached and many are performing similar work, individuals with lower stress resilience aren't blamed, Chiu added. Every incident, he noted, is regrettable.

In addressing queries about potential overburdening of duties, Chiu said considerations extend from physical and mental health to rule compliance. Guard duty structured with two hours standing followed by six hours rest is an example cited as within compliance.

Regarding the situation of a military police suicide, Chiu confirmed that the judiciary has joined the investigation but there are no definite results as yet. He discouraged hasty conclusions, suggesting they compound family grief.




The Ministry of Health and Welfare and several NGOs operate all hours free suicide prevention hotline numbers 1925, 1995, and 1980.

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