In response to the rising number of patients seeking mental health treatment in Taiwan, Chen, Po-See, the newly appointed Director-General of the Department of Mental Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has introduced a comprehensive policy vision that spans “early prevention” through “post-treatment recovery.” The plan integrates community-based support, long-acting treatment approaches, and inter-ministerial collaboration, aiming to build a more holistic, accessible, and sustainable mental healthcare system in Taiwan.

Growing Mental Health Needs Highlight the Need for Greater Efficiency

According to data from the National Health Insurance Administration, the number of people receiving medical treatment for mental health-related conditions reached 1.454 million in 2021, a 54.8% increase from 940,000 in 2012—an average annual growth rate of 3.3% to 6.6%. Among these, approximately 200,000 individuals hold catastrophic illness cards for chronic psychiatric disorders, and about half are estimated to have schizophrenia. In addition, schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders ranked 13th among the top 20 diseases in national health insurance expenditures in 2023, involving around 136,000 patients. These figures underscore both the prevalence of mental disorders and the substantial strain they place on Taiwan’s healthcare system.

Integrating Early Intervention and Recovery-Oriented Support

“We used to intervene only after symptoms appeared,” said Chen. “The new policy will extend upstream—starting from health promotion and early engagement with high-risk groups—while also deepening recovery efforts on the backend, so patients not only avoid hospitalization but truly recover and reintegrate into society.” He emphasized that mental health strategies should not focus solely on treatment, but prioritize prevention and slowing disease progression. “The goal isn’t merely to ‘avoid hospitalization,’ but to enable patients to ‘recover and return to society,’” he added. This approach also aims to ease family burdens, reduce hidden costs, and strengthen the overall healthcare system.

Dr. Wang Jen-Pang, President of the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry, voiced strong support for the initiative, noting that clinical experience consistently shows early intervention can significantly slow disease progression, reduce long-term hospitalizations, and help patients return to daily life and employment. “This represents an important step toward a more human-centered and socially integrated mental health system in Taiwan,” he said.

Long-Acting Injectables (LAIs) Improve Treatment Stability

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) have become a key therapeutic option in altering the course of schizophrenia. Multiple real-world international studies have shown that compared with oral medication, LAIs can reduce the risk of rehospitalization by 20–30% and decrease psychiatric emergency visits. This has been validated by national-level research in Finland, while Taiwan’s National Health Insurance data also confirm that LAIs play a crucial role in maintaining treatment continuity after a patient’s first hospitalization—significantly lowering relapse rates. Importantly, domestic evidence also indicates that LAIs reduce all-cause mortality, sudden death, and cardiovascular mortality among patients with schizophrenia.

Dr. Yang Hui-Nien, Chairperson of the Education Committee of the Taiwan Society for Social and Community Psychiatry, shared a clinical example: one patient with poor insight had long resisted treatment but gradually stabilized after receiving LAI therapy through a home care team. “The patient was able to rejoin family life and even resume some level of social participation. This shows that LAIs are not a last resort but, when used proactively, can lead to long-term recovery outcomes,” she explained.

Three Years of Progress and the Road Ahead

Since 2022, the National Health Insurance Administration has allocated dedicated funding for LAI subsidies and commissioned the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry to develop evidence-based Clinical Guidelines for Early Intervention and Long-Acting Injectable Use in Taiwan’s Psychiatric Care. After three years of implementation, by 2024 the nationwide LAI coverage rate has reached approximately 30%, representing a 9.67% increase from the previous year, with utilization of the dedicated funding reaching 99.8%.

Chen highlighted that this progress reflects growing public understanding that “LAIs are not a punitive measure for severe cases, but an effective treatment option that helps stabilize patients and prevent relapse.” He stressed that shared decision-making between medical teams, patients, and families is key to expanding access and improving outcomes.

Community Recovery and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Beyond Medication

Chen emphasized that LAI therapy is not an isolated measure but part of a broader recovery network integrated with community support systems. Stabilized patients can transition to community rehabilitation programs, supported employment, and family-based assistance, thereby enhancing functional recovery and social reintegration. This aligns with several ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, including the Community Living Program for Individuals with Mental Illness and the Capacity Building Program for Peer and Family Support Groups.

Looking ahead, Chen plans to further promote recovery-oriented policies such as the “Peer Support Specialist Program,” in which individuals with lived experience of mental illness undergo structured training under the Ministry of Labor and become certified peer professionals to assist others. “It’s both a form of support and a paid profession,” he said, noting that pilot programs have already begun training seed personnel, with plans to gradually expand.

Addressing challenges in home-based and community treatment, Dr. Ouyang Wen-Chen, President of the Taiwan Society for Social and Community Psychiatry, noted that integrating social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, and trained peer support specialists could form a complete support network—extending care beyond medical treatment into everyday life and embodying the principles of recovery-oriented care.

Integrating Policy, Clinical Practice, and Community for a Win-Win Mental Health System

Taiwan’s mental healthcare system is steadily moving toward comprehensive, “whole-spectrum” care—from prevention and early intervention to treatment, community support, and recovery. Chen’s vision unites policy direction, clinical practice, and community collaboration, earning broad support from the psychiatric community. The key challenges ahead lie in sustaining resource investment, ensuring effective cross-ministerial coordination, and stabilizing peer support and case management systems. With rising LAI adoption, expanded community networks, and deepened interdisciplinary collaboration, Taiwan is poised to realize the vision of “fewer relapses, fewer emergencies, fewer hospitalizations, and more recovery”—creating mutual benefits for patients, families, and the entire healthcare system.

Resource: 心健司推前端預防、後端復元政策 提升台灣精神醫療整體效能