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The TaiwanICDF collaborates with Malteser International and Good Neighbors to co-host a forum on mental health for all in Geneva during the 76th World Health Assembly

Published  Wed May 23, 2023

The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) co-hosted an in-person forum titled “Mental Health for All: Psychosocial Support for People in Need in Emergency Contexts” during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, which ran from May 21 to 30. The TaiwanICDF collaborated with Malteser International (MI) and Good Neighbors Global Partnership Center (GNGPC) for the event, which discussed how to provide mental health support for people in emergency contexts on May 22. Many participants joined this forum, including officials from Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Eswatini, along with international members of INGOs, industry, government, academia and research institutions.

Ms. Blerta Spahiu, Head of the Child Protection Sector of Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh), introduced the forum. She was followed by the Minister of Health and Welfare in Taiwan, Dr. Jui-Yuan Hsueh, who provided opening remarks and highlighted the need to maintain mental health support in all circumstances. To illustrate, he explained how Taiwan’s government developed strategies to provide psychological support for the public and frontline healthcare workers during the fight against COVID-19. 

Several other speakers also shared their perspectives on mental health support. The keynote speaker, Dr. Shur-Fen Gau, Vice-Superintendent of National Taiwan University Hospital, reflected on Taiwan’s experience of strengthening mental health during the pandemic; Dr. Peter Kaiser, Senior Consultant for Mental Health projects at MI, discussed integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into existing healthcare systems; Ms. Cathy Wang, Director of the Humanitarian Assistance Department at the TaiwanICDF, shared her organization’s new MHPSS interventions in humanitarian assistance projects; and Dr. Seong Ha Eun Marcellino, Representative to Good Neighbors International Cooperation Office, Geneva, discussed strategies for building sustainable MHPSS resources through global partnerships for those in humanitarian crises. 

To conclude, Secretary General of the TaiwanICDF Amb. Timothy T.Y. Hsiang gave closing remarks. He encouraged the international aid community to adopt the Build Back Better principle by incorporating mental health into their strategies as they contend with the increasing threat of natural disasters and armed conflicts. He also urged international organizations to support mental health at every level, from community to government, to strengthen resilience in recipient nations’ healthcare systems. Finally, he reaffirmed TaiwanICDF’s key roles, both as Taiwan’s professional aid agency and as a member of the larger international aid and development community, and then committed the organization to pursuing MHPSS projects.

The TaiwanICDF’s humanitarian assistance projects provide recovery and reconstruction assistance for partner countries in the aftermath of natural disasters or wars. The organization helps survivors quickly and safely return to normal life through interventions in its priority areas like food security, heath, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. 

  • Update: 2023/05/24
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