TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In response to a distressing rise in suicides within Taiwan's armed forces, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) vowed on Wednesday (April 24) to bolster the number of military counselors. This decision follows the alarming report of 16 cases of suicides or attempted suicides this year alone, culminating in at least 14 fatalities among the ranks.
Addressing the Crisis
Policy and Response
Criticism has been directed at the Ministry of National Defense for not meeting its ambitious "zero suicides" policy goal, set in 2016. With the military facing scrutiny over its mental health support infrastructure, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) pointed out the inadequacy of having only about 400 counselors for the current force, especially with plans to increase troop numbers to 260,000 by 2029. Minister Chiu has committed to consulting with other agencies and experts to determine the necessary increase in military counselors and has promised to report back to the legislative committees within two months, aiming to address this critical issue head-on.
As Taiwan's military grapples with this pressing challenge, the commitment to expanding mental health resources signals a crucial step towards safeguarding the well-being of its personnel. The nation now watches closely as the Ministry of National Defense takes strides to fulfill its pledge and stem the tide of this tragic trend.
