Millions of Thais 'mentally ill' admits minister

[Spitfire]

Three million Thais ‘mentally ill’

Published: 19/09/2012 at 04:20 PM
Online news: Local News

At least three million Thais are known to suffer from some form or other of mental illness, Deputy Health Minister Dr Surawith Konsomboon said on Wednesday.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony where Boon Chartpanich donated 47 rai land to be used to build a psychiatric hospital in Phitsanulok province.

Dr Surawit said the latest study by the Department of Mental Health concluded that around 20% of Thais, or about one in every five, suffer from some form of mental illness. The most common diseases were psychosis, anxiety disorders, depression and apoplexy (a stroke), he said.

However, only three million of them had been registered with hospitals nationwide last year. Of these, only 1.09 million undergo regular treatment at the 17 psychiatric hospitals countrywide.

He said the number of mental health patients is likely to grow each year.

Within 15 years most of Thai society will be urbanised, especially the eastern regions, leading to more health problems among the people.

“As a result of urbanisation, society will become more fragile and self centered, the majority of households are likely to consist only of the father, mother and their children (fewer elderly people), with women playing the lead role in most families,” he said.

Dr Surawit said the World Health Organization is concerned about the rising incidence of depression across the globe. The WHO had recently moved depression to number two on its priority list, immediately below heart disease.

Dr Surawit said the ministry plans to expand the availability mental health treatment during 2013-2016. Help would be available to all groups of people - men, women, children, young adults and the elderly.

He said the goal is that by 2016, seven out of 10 Thais will be mentally healthy and seven out 10 children’s analytical and emotional intelligence up to world standards.

The ministry also aims to reduce the suicide rate to 6.5 per 100,000 people, and to ensure regular treatment for at least eight out of 10 mental health patients.

Source - Bangkok Post ............ http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... ntally-ill

Comment - Interesting, but notice he says that the figure is 'known to be' which implies a much high level and it seems only a third of that known figure seeks help. Also, he confidently announces that by 2016 there will only be 30% of the population 'mentally ill' as 7 out of 10 Thais will be mentally healthy and blames it on urbanization as the reason for society becoming more self centered.........hmmm.

[richard]

Certainly noticeably so when I lived in an Isaan village and recognised by the local population

[charlesh]

Noticeable everywhere in Thailand and is called "bahtophenia" easily identified by an irrational and obsessive desire to obtain Baht at any opportunity and by any means conceivable.

[Lung Per]

Perhaps the cause could be inbreeding???

[JimmyGreaves]

Noticeable everywhere in Thailand and is called "bahtophenia" easily identified by an irrational and obsessive desire to obtain Baht at any opportunity and by any means conceivable.

Worse in the UK, just try and get a builder or your car fixed. It's not called rip-off Britain for Nowt!

Remember - everyone is after YOUR hard earned money!

http://www.rip-off.co.uk/

[MrPlum]

Worse in the UK, just try and get a builder or your car fixed. It's not called rip-off Britain for Nowt!

Remember - everyone is after YOUR hard earned money!

Those that target and rip-off the elderly should have their hands cut off. The Night Market is apparently where it's done...

[apinansukpeng]

You have to give him credit for at least him being conerned for the mentally illness awareness and is thinkin of doing somethin to better it.
Alot of the mental illness I personally believe has to do with the culture and religion also. Buddhism is a religion that does not give anyone hope as to where they will go when they die, therefore, the thai people are more self centered and would do anything that is morally wrong just to get something out of it, because their religion teaches them they will most likely die and all go to ... anyway. Alot of Thai's are middle class or poor and they cannot afford to gain merit by making donations at the temple all the time.

They are being taken advantage of by people who own businesses by being paid under minimum wage and at gas stations alot of the young kids have to work 7 days a week because they have no education. These business owners are still practicing slavery. The best we can do as foreigners that employ Thai people is to teach them English as a bonus so that they can better themselves and have a better choice in work for their future and family. In Hua Hin, if you are a Thai and you can speak English, you could double your pay check easily. I think this is the best gift we can give society as we are taking advantage of living in their beautiful country, we are living together as one.

[Lung Per]

Worse in the UK, just try and get a builder or your car fixed. It's not called rip-off Britain for Nowt!

Remember - everyone is after YOUR hard earned money!

Those that target and rip-off the elderly should have their hands cut off. The Night Market is apparently where it's done...

The work of salafists as per the "holy khoran"....

[Takiap]

You have to give him credit for at least him being conerned for the mentally illness awareness and is thinkin of doing somethin to better it.
Alot of the mental illness I personally believe has to do with the culture and religion also. Buddhism is a religion that does not give anyone hope as to where they will go when they die, therefore, the thai people are more self centered and would do anything that is morally wrong just to get something out of it, because their religion teaches them they will most likely die and all go to ... anyway. Alot of Thai's are middle class or poor and they cannot afford to gain merit by making donations at the temple all the time.

They are being taken advantage of by people who own businesses by being paid under minimum wage and at gas stations alot of the young kids have to work 7 days a week because they have no education. These business owners are still practicing slavery. The best we can do as foreigners that employ Thai people is to teach them English as a bonus so that they can better themselves and have a better choice in work for their future and family. In Hua Hin, if you are a Thai and you can speak English, you could double your pay check easily. I think this is the best gift we can give society as we are taking advantage of living in their beautiful country, we are living together as one.

Personally, I don't think the situation is any worse in Thailand than it is elsewhere. In fact, I would imagine countries like the US and the UK have a higher percentage of people with some or other mental illness. You may see more mentally handicapped people here in Thailand, but that's probably because they're not dumped in institutions here as they are in the west.


As for their religion......what a load of bollocks. Buddhism does not teach people that they're all going to hell, so if this is what you believe, you clearly know nothing about the religion. What hope does Christianity give people? Please, look at the bigger picture and you'll see religion actually causes a great deal of mental instability. It has done so since the beginning of time, and it still does.


As far as teaching English to the Thais.......yes, I agree, many of them could have a more comfortable life if they could speak fluent English, but the reality is, it's not going to happen any time soon.