Taiwanese Government Considers Mental Health Leave for Public Servants After Suicide Raises Concerns
Taipei, Taiwan – In the wake of a public servant’s tragic suicide, Taiwan’s government is considering groundbreaking new measures to protect the mental well-being of its workforce. Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi announced plans to introduce official mental health leave for public employees, echoing similar initiatives already implemented in high schools and universities.
The move comes following the November 4th death of a 39-year-old Labor Ministry worker, surnamed Wu, at the Executive Yuan in Taipei. While investigations are ongoing, speculation suggests that workplace bullying by his supervisor may have played a role in the tragic incident. The supervisor involved, Hsieh Yi-jung, was removed from her post and is now under investigation.
This tragedy has triggered a national conversation on workplace well-being and sparked accusations of bullying within various government agencies. "We still have a lot of room for improvement," said President Lai Ching-te, who chairs the Presidential Office’s Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee. "The government will collaborate with the private sector in efforts to attend to those in need."
The proposed mental health leave is part of a broader government initiative to address rising suicide rates in Taiwan. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), leading this effort, will work with other agencies to provide targeted support, particularly for personnel with easier access to weapons, such as those in the military and law enforcement.
In a sobering statistic, MOHW data reveals that depression and other mental illnesses were the leading causes of suicide attempts in Taiwan between 2018 and 2023. The ministry has set a goal to reduce the age-standardized suicide mortality rate by 5 per thousand by 2028 compared to 2023 levels.
The death of worker Wu has also led to the resignation of former Labor Minister Ho Pei-shan. It highlights the critical need for open conversations about mental health in demanding professional environments. As Lin Ching-yi stated, "The issue of public servants’ mental health has recently come under close scrutiny," signifying a turning point in Taiwan’s approach to workplace wellness.
