Suicides down, but figures rising for elderly
Suicide rates have fallen dramatically over the past 14 years, but in a disturbing trend, the number of very elderly Thais killing themselves has outstripped that for young adults in the past five years, the Mental Health Department said yesterday.
The overall number of suicides fell from 5,700 in 1997 to 3,700 last year. Since 2006, however, the number of Thais aged 80-84 who kill themselves has exceeded suicides in the 20-29 age group, according to the department, which did not offer any explanation for the trend.
Chiang Mai still has the nation's highest average suicide rate, with 20.4 suicides per 100,000 people, followed by Lamphun (20.2), Chiang Rai (15.63), Mae Hong Son (14.45) and Nan (13.03).
The department's director-general, Dr Aphichai Mongkhol, attributed the relatively high suicide rates in the North to cultural factors including a local tendency to flaunt wealth, combined with strong peer pressure and a traditional reluctance to seek counselling.
Some analysts attribute higher suicide rates among the elderly to a lack of self-esteem, long-term ailments, loneliness and a decline in care of older relatives by the young.
In decreasing order, the most common methods of suicide in Thailand are hanging, poisoning and gunshot.
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day on SaturdaySeptember 10, the department is jointly organising an exhibition titled "Love Yourself" with Central Group starting ThursdaySeptember 8.
