[Reporter Luo Bi/Taipei Report] Fraud, debt and financial pressure not only empty your wallet, but may also lead to psychological difficulties step by step. Cai Xiaowen, chairman of the National Federation of Counseling Psychiatrists Associations of the Republic of China, said today (12) that in clinical practice in recent years, the number of people seeking psychological counseling due to debt problems has indeed increased; especially the 45 to 64-year-old group is under multiple pressures such as finance, family, health and parental care, but is a group that is relatively unaccustomed to asking for help, and deserves more attention.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare held a press conference for World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 today. The theme for this year (2026) is "Changing the Narrative of Suicide - Blooming Resilience and Building a Future Together". It hopes to shift from silence, stigma and misunderstanding about suicide in the past to open listening, understanding and empathy, so that those who are at a low point are willing to seek help.
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For psychological issues arising from recent debt and financial difficulties. Cai Xiaowen pointed out in the interview that in recent years, such issues have indeed appeared more and more frequently in counseling practices. In addition to being related to the overall socio-economic situation, they are also affected by factors such as the increase in fraud methods and inflationary pressure. The number of people seeking psychological counseling due to debt problems has indeed increased.
Why may debt problems push people into psychological difficulties step by step? Cai Xiaowen said that it usually does not happen all at once, but a vicious cycle that continues to accumulate. In the early stage, the parties involved still hold on to some hope, thinking that the problem may be solved, and may also want to deal with it through other borrowing methods. However, when a person deals with debt in isolation for a long time, the problem becomes larger and more difficult, and the psychology may gradually be forced to extremes.
She emphasized that suicidal thoughts are usually "frozen three feet but not cold in a day" and it is difficult to reduce it to a certain event that becomes the "last straw". Therefore, suicide prevention and treatment cannot only deal with the single incident at hand. Debt problems require professional intervention and negotiation, and emotional distress should also be faced early to avoid continued accumulation of problems.
Cai Xiaowen also highlighted the difficulties faced by people aged 45 to 64. At this stage, in addition to financial and family pressures, physical health begins to change, parents may also gradually develop care needs, and multiple problems appear at the same time. In comparison, young people are now more willing to talk about psychological distress, while middle-aged and older generations have less habit of asking for help in the past and are less likely to take the initiative to speak.
However, even if relatives and friends want to lend a helping hand, they may not know how to ask. Huang Minwei, deputy director of Kaohsiung Municipal Kaixuan Hospital, pointed out that the survey found that although the public has gradually become aware of accompanying and caring for people in psychological crisis, as many as 88% still have varying degrees of doubts about "encouraging help" when facing people in crisis. Currently, about 48.4% of the public understand the concept of suicide prevention gatekeepers, and there is still room for efforts.
Huang Minwei said that "suicidal people will not send out help signals" is a common myth. In fact, about 70% to 80% of people will send out help signals beforehand. What is important is whether the people around them can understand, understand and empathize with them. Another myth is that the person is "just venting, not really wanting to die." However, many verbal requests for help may actually reflect real risks and should not be ignored.
Cai Xiaowen pointed out that relatives and friends can pay attention to three types of warning signs, including recent behaviors or emotions that are obviously different from usual; negative words related to death or "can't survive", "living is meaningless", etc.; and whether you have encountered major events or strong pressure recently. If you notice anything unusual, don't be afraid to ask about suicide because you're afraid of it. You can start with "How are you doing? Can we talk about it?" to avoid missing the opportunity to catch the other person.
Zhuang Renxiang, deputy director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said that in response to fraud and debt issues, the Department of Heart and Health of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has cooperated with the Financial Supervisory Commission and the Health Bureau to conduct suicide prevention and gatekeeper education and training for front-line financial personnel, teaching the "1 question, 2 response, 3 referral" technique. If financial personnel come into contact with people who have been defrauded or have debt problems and find that something is wrong with the other person's situation, they can provide information about psychological services and assist in referrals. Currently, relevant education and training has begun to be promoted.
The Free E-Newsletter cares about you: Suicide cannot solve the problem. Bravely asking for help is not a weak person. There is warmth everywhere in society, and you will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties.
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