The government has increased its budget allocation towards its mental health support initiative to NT$429m (US$13.5m) for 2027 from the current NT$350m, reported the Taipei Times.
The initiative launched in August 2024, provides people aged 15 to 45 with three free counselling sessions. According to UDN Money and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the allocation of additional funds is expected to benefit over 100,000 people next year.
According to the MOHW, the government’s mental health support programme for young people and middle-aged adults has resulted in 28% of the beneficiaries receiving further mental health services.
The ministry has other mental health support measures covering other age groups as well, such as free counselling sessions for people with cancer and their family, and the implementation of the WHO’s Integrated Care for Older People evaluation for people aged 65 or above under the Long-Term Care 3.0 programme.
The MOHW also plans to collaborate with the Ministry of the Interior to launch a new care programme, making home visits to care for older people living alone, a subset of about 700,000 to 750,000 people, and introducing care services based on their risk levels.