Taipei City Hospital

      Wang Renbang, Attending Doctor of the General Psychiatry Department at the Songde branch of Taipei City Hospital, says that Taipei has become a modern international metropolis with more and more immigrants, including: foreign language teachers, foreign students, foreign laborers, foreign nurse-aids, foreign spouses and expatriates of foreign companies, all of whom face diverse pressures in life.

      Wang Renbang has also provided consultations for some foreign language teachers in hospitals or community outpatient clinics. In one example, a foreign English language teacher who had been in Taiwan for many years, was abusing alcohol and tranquilizers to cope with the stress of teaching, emotional issues, as well as limited interpersonal relationships and leisure activities. Although alcohol and tranquilizers may have been the fastest way to handle pressure, over time, the psychological dependence on alcohol and tranquilizers and withdrawal symptoms had become problems which he could not control. After nearly two years of treatment, he slowly gained a solid understanding of his pressures and problems, which increased the possibility of making adjustments, while appropriate medicines also gradually freed him from alcohol and drugs.

      The team at the Songde branch of Taipei City Hospital will continue to provide these services in hospital outpatient clinics and community mental health centers, including psychological counseling and psychiatric treatment. Given that most of the doctors at Songde branch have been to Europe and North America for advanced studies, their foreign language ability and cross-cultural competency will also help to ensure that these new residents receive thorough diagnosis and treatment.