Mental Health Stigma and Suicide Risk Among Taiwanese Adolescents

Abstract

Increasing numbers of mental health crises and suicide cases among Taiwanese youth cannot be attributed solely on academic stress or the exam-focused educational system. Instead, the continuous academic and social stress caused by the culture-driven mechanism of family honor, filial piety, and "saving face" causes public, family, and personal stigmatization of the Taiwanese people. This combined form of stigma creates a vicious cycle of silence and forces the stressed teens to hide their emotional pain using the means of avoidance, such as internet gaming or attempting to gain understanding from generative artificial intelligence.

In order to mitigate this critical public health problem, an institutional and societal shift from punishment and discipline to mental health care must be implemented. Although the currently implemented policies are useful constructive advancements, the barriers created by the system must also be reduced. The experience of Taiwan could be viewed as a great example for other successful societies around the globe as to how to protect teenagers from harm by lessening the cultural stigma that prevents them from seeking help.