Chairman’s Statement

In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and depression prevention and treatment:

I am deeply honored to have been elected as the President of the Taiwan Depression Prevention Association for the 10th term. Building upon the foundation of the past presidents' dedication and contributions, I am committed to upholding the mission of the association and advancing various mental health initiatives, educational training, and community services in the field of depression prevention and treatment.

During the impact of COVID-19 since early 2020, while Taiwan has been steadfast in safeguarding public health, the establishment of the 10th Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Mental Health Division, in 2022 reflects the nation's commitment to expanding community mental health services and constructing a mental health service network under the social safety net. Our association will continue to actively promote efforts in depression prevention in tandem with these developments.

From recognizing initial symptoms and self-identification, to maintaining community life and personal functionality, facilitating family support and treatment referrals, and advancing precise diagnosis and ongoing therapy, the journey of addressing depression's effects on individuals requires collective societal attention and assistance. Particularly, the issues of depression among students and the working population have garnered attention in recent years. While access to information about depression has become more diverse, societal understanding, attitudes toward seeking medical help, and acceptance of medical treatment for depression still require further attention.

Taking stock of our current advantages and resources, the following are the core objectives I plan for the next three years:

• Sustaining Public Education on Depression: Despite the growing awareness of depression's impact among the general population, most individuals only become conscious of its significance after experiencing the hardship of the illness, along with their families. Continuous education on susceptibility to depression and the importance of treatment should be deeply rooted in society. Emphasis should be placed on the significance of early intervention and relapse prevention. Therefore, in addition to biannual seminars that cater to professionals and the public, channels for disseminating public education through social organizations will be opened. Utilizing physical, audiovisual, broadcasting, theatrical, and live-streaming mediums, we will promote accurate knowledge widely. As accurate knowledge spreads, the stigma surrounding depression may gradually diminish.

• Attending to Mental Health of Professionals and Depression Prevention: Beyond impacting the general population, the effects of the pandemic also extend to frontline healthcare workers. Adhering to the spirit of academic education and development in depression prevention and treatment, our association will integrate the required depression care knowledge for frontline professionals across disciplines into a comprehensive resource. This resource will enable professionals to sensitively recognize others' risks and provide self-help support while fulfilling their roles as gatekeepers.

• Age- and Group-Specific Depression and Suicide Prevention Education: Given the strong link between depression and suicide, with over 60% of chronic depression cases involving suicidal ideation or attempts, the planning of suicide prevention goes hand in hand with depression prevention. High-risk groups for depression generally fall into age categories such as adolescents, middle-aged adults, and the elderly. With the trend of suicide cases skewing younger in recent years, depression prevention education should be targeted at younger age groups. Our association will integrate projects to develop relevant educational materials and curriculum content while harnessing advancements in technology to enhance the motivation and effectiveness of depression and suicide prevention training.

These core goals represent the path forward for the next three years as we continue to make progress in the field of depression prevention and treatment, especially in the context of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.