◎ Lin Jinjia
The Legislative Yuan passed amendments to some provisions of the "School Health Law" on the third reading on August 21. (File photo)
In late August, the "School Health Law" was amended and passed by the Legislative Yuan. Article 16 of this revision of the law officially lists "mental health education" as a necessary item in health-related courses, emphasizing the establishment of students' mental health cognition and self-awareness to promote students' mental health. The author believes that if this amendment can be implemented, the knowledge and skills of mental health acquired from student days will not only be related to personal growth, but also become the most important cornerstone of the social safety net.
The author has been engaged in mental health care for more than 30 years. In clinical practice, he often encounters young people with emotional distress, ranging from elementary school to university, who even suffer from self-injury and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Unfortunately, many times, what makes these young people suffer even more is that their relatives, friends, and peers do not understand mental health issues and do not know how to listen and accompany them. Some even respond with a blaming, critical or negative attitude, making the person more isolated and helpless. Of course, we cannot expect everyone to become a psychological professional, but at least more people should have basic mental health knowledge. In addition to being aware of their own emotions, when people around them are in trouble, they can understand, accompany, support, and help them seek professional resources.
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Secondly, the biggest difficulty in "prevention and treatment of mental illness" is: irregular treatment of individual cases. In addition to the main reason for the case's "lack of disease awareness," relatives and friends around them do not understand mental illness, do not support treatment, and long-term social stigmatization, etc., will also cause patients to delay or interrupt treatment. The result is often that patients suffer from the disease, their families bear a heavy care load, the health system is overwhelmed, and a few serious cases pose risks to social safety. Even for common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, people often delay receiving treatment because they are afraid of labels, avoid medical treatment, or lack appropriate understanding and support from relatives and friends.
Therefore, the author expects that the "School Health Law Enforcement Rules" will be formulated in the future. When actually planning student mental health education courses, in addition to including emotional recognition, stress management, interpersonal relationships and self-awareness, it should also include basic understanding of mental illness, de-stigmatization issues, crisis identification, knowledge of seeking help, and how to support relatives and friends around you.
The future formulation of "School Health Law Enforcement Rules" should also include basic understanding of mental illness, de-stigmatization issues, crisis identification, knowledge of seeking help, and how to support relatives and friends around you. (Drawing by this newspaper)
Through this revision and subsequent implementation, knowledge related to mental and mental health will be rooted in primary and secondary school students and continue to be strengthened in tertiary education. Twenty years from now, more people in Taiwanese society will have a certain level of mental health knowledge, which will bring about epoch-making changes to the mental and mental health of the entire population.
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.
Suicide prevention and treatment consultation and safety hotline: 1925
Lifeline consultation hotline: 1995
Teacher Zhang’s hotline: 1980
(The author is a psychiatrist)
