In a significant move towards prioritizing mental health, National Taiwan University (NTU) and six other educational institutions have introduced mental health leave for students in the new semester. This initiative brings the total number of schools offering such leave to 18, representing 12 percent of all universities in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Under this policy, students requesting mental health leave are exempt from attending classes, allowing them the time and space to address personal challenges stemming from emotional issues or stress. MOE Department of Student Affairs and Special Education Director Wu Lin-hui highlighted that students must receive approval for mental support services from their university counselors.
National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung pioneered the mental health leave program last year, becoming the first university in Taiwan to do so, as confirmed by university president Cheng Ying-yao. While there is no strict limit on the number of times a student can take such leave, the school counselor steps in if a student applies for leave more than three times in one semester. During the last academic year, the university received 662 mental health leave applications, accounting for 3.83 percent of its student body.
In the previous year, 11 universities across Taiwan initiated similar programs, resulting in 29,582 students taking mental health leave during the fall and spring semesters, according to Wu.
NTU, along with four other state universities—National Taipei University, National Central University, National Chiayi University, and National Pingtung University—implemented a mental health leave program this month. Additionally, two private universities, Feng Chia University and Chinese Culture University, launched similar programs.
NTU students can apply for mental health leave up to three times per semester, with each application subject to approval. At National Central University, students are entitled to five days of mental health leave each semester, but this leave cannot be used to skip exams. Taipei Medical University also offers five days of mental health leave per semester, with the requirement that a student’s adviser or professor takes active steps to support the student after three days of mental health leave.
Alvin Chang, director of the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, praised the program as valuable support for students. He believes that the established limits help prevent potential abuse of the system.
A student at NTU College of Law and Politics shared that taking mental health leave when feeling down last semester greatly contributed to feeling better and ultimately returning to classes. Another student, surnamed Wu, at National Taiwan Normal University noted that mental health leave helped him address his insomnia issues effectively.
