FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Watch for friends at risk of suicide, Mental Health Dept asks

Watch for friends at risk of suicide, Mental Health Dept asks

The Department of Mental Health, worried over a rise in suicide cases to about 11-12 cases daily or 345 cases per month, is asking people to watch for the five signs of suicide risk and to take quick action to save a friend from suicide.

Watch for friends at risk of suicide, Mental Health Dept asks

Department Director-General Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said frequent news reporting of suicide that includes too much detail about the method of dying is among the contributing factors as it encourages copycat suicides.


Thailand’s suicide rate is at 6.34 per 100,000 population, he said. Last year, 4,137 Thai people (3,327 males and 810 females) suicided. Some 74.7 per cent of them were of working age (25-59 years old) followed by those over age 60 (22.1 per cent) and youths aged 10-24 (3.2 per cent), he said.


Most suicides – 48.7 per cent – stemmed from relationship problems such as feelings of inferiority or of being slighted due to a scolding or argument with loved ones. Next was jealousy at 22.9 per cent, followed by unmet needs to be cared for at 8.36 per cent, the director-general said.


Alcohol and drug abuse were involved in many cases, with drinking problems connected to 19.6 per cent of suicides, including 6 per cent of people self-inflicting while intoxicated.


Mental health issues also at played a role in many cases, he said, with 7.47 per cent of suicides traced to people suffering from mental illness, and 6.54 per cent suffering from depression. Of those with mental illness, 12 per cent had a previous record of self-harm, he added.


Kiattiphum urged people to be vigilant for signs of suicide risk among their friends and close ones, such as being sad, bored or reclusive, having insomnia, negative thoughts about things or posting a message on social media suggesting they were leaving, such as “thank you”, “sorry”, or “goodbye”. Expressing a death wish or that they no longer wished to continue living, or feelings of hopelessness about their lives are also warning signs.


He suggested that people who notice a friend at risk of suicide risk reach out to offer that friend their sympathetic ear and allow the friend to talk about his/her feelings without criticising or scolding him/her.


He also urged people to advise a friend they deem at risk suicide to seek help from the Mental Health Department’s hotline 1323. Alternatively, they could suggest a call to the Samaritan hotline 02-713-6793 from noon to 10pm,  a use of the “Sabaijai” smartphone application, or a visit to a hospital or a consultation clinic.

RELATED
nationthailand