With millions of Thais suffering from or at risk of serious mental disorders, it is undeniable that mental health problems have become a crisis demanding urgent action.
Health promotion agencies and academic institutes have sounded the alarm for years about the rise in mental health problems among Thai people of all ages.
Despite these warnings, the issue has not gained the necessary traction among policymakers and the general public. The result is more people, particularly the young, are struggling with psychological distress and disorders.
Dr Thananan Numsang, from Phraram 9 Hospital, recently underscored the gravity of the issue. Citing the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the psychologist said mental health problems are increasing at an alarming rate.
DHM data shows that over 1.5 million Thais are suffering from depression, with significantly more having high-risk symptoms but remaining undiagnosed.
When accounting for high stress and suicide risk, the total number of people affected would comprise a substantial portion of the population. As mental health professionals indicate, the actual number is likely much higher, as it excludes those who are suffering in silence — who remain unaware of their condition or avoid seeking help due to social stigma.
This is not just a health concern; it is critical societal and economic ailment that the country can no longer afford to overlook.
According to the DMH, an average of four people attempted suicide every hour in 2024. Overall, more than 5,000 people committed suicide last year, a tragic rate of 7.89 per 100,000 people.
The highest number of deaths occurred among two groups: working adults aged 20-59, followed by seniors aged over 60.
Even more alarming is the data on youth: the suicide attempt rate among teens aged 15-19 reached 136.4 per 100,000 people — the highest of any age group in the country.
But what is truly devastating is the profound lack of accessible care. The number of psychologists — about 800 in the entire country, or a ratio of about 1.2 per 100,000 people — is woefully inadequate to care for the rapidly increasing number of patients.
At present, patients who have to rely on public hospitals could have to wait four to six months for service. The high cost and long duration of treatment are also a major deterrent.
A patient often requires regular visits over the course of nine months to a year, even up to five years in some cases. The total financial burden, which can range from to 5,000 baht to 50,000 baht a month, is unaffordable for many working-class Thais.
This financial and logistic wall explains why the DMH reported that for every 100 patients seeking help, only about 28 gain access to treatment. This means more than 70% of mental health patients are left in the dark, their conditions untreated and their risks unaddressed.
The situation is not unique to Thailand. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that over one billion people globally are living with mental health disorders, with conditions such as anxiety and depression inflicting immense human and economic tolls worldwide.
Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic backgrounds, and global progress in reducing this mortality has been too low, according to the WHO.
Psychologists attribute stress as the leading cause of mental problems. Over the past few years, the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with economic and social disruptions have intensified pressure on certain groups, including working adults, first-jobbers and entrepreneurs.
Dr Thananan said another worrying trend is burnout, which can grow silently and gradually develop into severe conditions similar to depression. Furthermore, heavy reliance on social media can cause feelings of inadequacy that manifest as afflictions like eating and relationship disorders, both increasingly prevalent among Gen Z.
Evidently, the crisis demands more than just awareness campaigns, or free online tests. It requires action to expand treatment access, increase the number of qualified mental health professionals, genuinely de-stigmatise mental problems — especially in the media — and implement preventive measures in every community.
It is true that mental health problems affect not just the patient, but everyone around them. Tackling them requires a collective and genuine effort, starting with a clear acceptance of the severity of the problems.
A comprehensive, well-funded and well-structured action plan is needed to stem the tide of suffering and safeguard people’s mental wellbeing.