Taipei City Government

On June 4, Mayor Ko Wen-je presided over the certification ceremony highlighting the participation of community doctors in the City’s suicide prevention program.
 
During his address, Ko expressed gratitude to the doctors for their commitment and commented that the new reinforcement strengthen the existing support network under Teacher Chang helpline and is accessible for people who are tempted to seek an abrupt end.
 
Citing suicide statistics in 2016, Ko said that while Taipei’s suicide rate is 11.4 per hundred thousand – lower than the island’s average of 16 per hundred thousand, suicide still claims the lives of about 300 residents annually over the past five years. He stresses the importance of statistics-based science, adding that 50% of those who attempted suicides have sought medical advice for symptoms such as headache, insomnia, or depression, before turning to suicide.
 
The mayor pointed out that if those showing signs of suicidal thoughts can be identified early onward and reported to responsible agencies when they turn to medical advice, we may have a more chance to prevent such tragedies from occurring.
 
The call volume of Teacher Chang’s lifeline has seen an increase. Operators have answered over 52,000 calls since its establishment in 2009.