Group Counseling Program

In recent years, the issues of substance addiction, such as drunk driving and drug abuse, have been on the rise, becoming major challenges to public safety and social governance. To jointly strengthen the social safety net, correctional institutions have actively assisted inmates in enhancing their mental health and reintegration capacity. In light of this, our prison has collaborated with Bali Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, to introduce a professional psychiatric team and launch the “Group Counseling Program.” Through group interaction and psychological support, the program aims to guide inmates in developing positive thinking, preventing substance addiction, and gradually moving toward physical and mental recovery.
Substance addiction is often related to maladaptive stress responses and insufficient emotional regulation. Wen Min-nan, Head of the Education Section, noted that the program particularly emphasizes the process of “awareness, understanding, and transformation,” enabling inmates to receive support during classes. The curriculum covers topics such as relaxation exercises, stress adjustment, and emotional management, helping participants understand the sources of negative emotions and stress while learning healthier coping strategies. Leveraging its extensive experience in psychiatric care and rehabilitation, Bali Psychiatric Center brings clinical resources into the prison to assist inmates in gradually improving emotional well-being, strengthening interpersonal skills, and enhancing psychological resilience for reintegration into society.
Special thanks go to Dr. Lin Chia-heng and his team from Bali Psychiatric Center, who stepped inside prison walls to guide inmates in exploring self-awareness, mastering emotional regulation skills, and boosting their recovery momentum. Participants also shared that they gained support and understanding through group discussions, while learning how to regulate emotions under stress and avoid falling into the trap of substance abuse and dependence.
This collaboration highlights the effectiveness of cross-domain integration between correctional and medical systems. It not only strengthens inmates’ mental health but also creates new opportunities for community resources to support reintegration. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand cooperation with medical, educational, and social welfare institutions to build a “prison-medical-community” triadic support network. This will help inmates achieve physical and mental recovery during incarceration and sustain their learning outcomes after release, gradually adjusting to the pace of life and moving toward a more stable and positive future.