Suicide on the rise in Thailand as stress from Covid and the economy increases

[webfact]

Suicide on the rise in Thailand as stress from Covid and the economy increases

 

Picture: Spring News

 

Thai media Spring News reported on the increasing prevalence of suicide in Thailand and what to do if stress from the Covid-19 pandemic is getting too much to bear. 

 

They said that 53,000 to 54,000 Thais try to kill themselves each year.

 

Around 4,000 are successful, that is 6-6.5 per 100,000 of the population. 

 

The figure has been on the rise since 2017, affecting mostly adults, more men than women, those in and out of work and the elderly. 

 

Main reasons for suicide are to do with relationships, drinking and drug issues, chronic pain and mental illness and economic issues.

 

The latter, they said, were on the rise during the pandemic. 

 

Those particularly at risk were people with mental health issues, chronic illness, unemployment, no relatives, the unmarried, those with a history of suicide attempts and those with suicide attempts in the family. 

 

Dr Somboon Hathaiusuk, a mental health professional at Sirirat Hospital, said that the pandemic was causing much stress. 

 

As the pandemic drags on, and may well do for some time, he suggested seeking help if you have depression or negative thoughts. He said that Thais have faced many problems, this is just another one to confront. 

 

He suggested doing activities that you like rather than letting thoughts of the pandemic overwhelm you.

 

Don't dwell on the bad news from social media - limit yourself to that just a couple of times a day. 

 

Try and explain and share your feelings of anxiety with a trusted person. 

 

A problem shared is often a problem halved, he suggested, and we often discover that others are in a similar or worse boat to ourselves. 

 

Source: Spring News

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-01-18

 

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If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health services, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-713-6791 (English), 02713-6793 (Thai) or Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).

http://www.samaritansthai.com/news/samaritans-of-thailand-english-hotline/ 
 

[shady86]

Homocides are much bigger problem here? Most tends to take someone else's life before taking own.

[RotBenz8888]

Many of traffic deaths are basically suicides. Mad driving, no safety belt, no helmet etc. 

[Antonymous]

The number of covid lockdown (economic) and covid fear related suicides vs number of deaths from covid virus in 2020.

 

Now that would be a useful statistic, not only in Thailand.

[NCC1701A]

I can say that the stress level here in Hua Hin is starting to show in the locals. Street venders are now competing with out of work hotel staff and others selling food for a few baht. I had someone ask me if I know how to make a sandwich and if I would show them so they can sell on the streets. 

 

I have long time friends (not that type of long time) asking if I will give them 100 baht for food for their babies. 

 

A Thai lady friend who owned a bar and was smart enough to sell right at the beginning of covid is sitting all day on the street selling pork sticks. 

 

My friends look tired and distracted and I think it is sinking in that here is another year to go.      

[starky]

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I can say that the stress level here in Hua Hin is starting to show in the locals. Street venders are now competing with out of work hotel staff and others selling food for a few baht. I had someone ask me if I know how to make a sandwich and if I would show them so they can sell on the streets. 

 

I have long time friends (not that type of long time) asking if I will give them 100 baht for food for their babies. 

 

A Thai lady friend who owned a bar and was smart enough to sell right at the beginning of covid is sitting all day on the street selling pork sticks. 

 

My friends look tired and distracted and I think it is sinking in that here is another year to go.      

And another one and another one. This idea of locking ourselves away and everything will be great is fallcious. Eventually governments will have to give up and let people be exposed to it. The mortality rate is minimal, lockdowns clearly don't work and the vaccine is no silver bullet.

[ezzra]

The stress among non Thai are also on the increase, having to witness the economic calamity and the restrictions of freedom and movements, while all the while unable to go back home to their respective country and thus caught between the a rock and a hard place, not a good times at all, which ever direction you look nothing bud doom and gloom... 

[talahtnut]

Its much the same in the UK, the drastic measures causing suicides, ruin, mental

health problems, and hunger,  tantamount to state sponsored extinction of the poor.

Anyone Googled 'The Georgia Stones'?

[skorp13]

I'm seeing many street vendors now fighting for space outside 7/11 and family marts. Where they used to sit and talk to each other waiting for customers they don't even look at each other. it is taking a toll. Prevention becoming worse than the disease itself

[Kaopad999]

Time to really make an extra effort to support local businesses guys! 

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Suicide on the rise in Thailand as stress from Covid and the economy increases

...............due to lack of support for the 'common' people

[Deli]

As many of the suicides are comitted out of desparation coz of running out of money, it would be relatively easy to help and to prevent.

 

Government, where is your help for your people ?

[vandeventer]

One guy just hung himself where I live. If the Thais don't get help from their families and they are under 60 they have nowhere to go. It's such a shame  and he was only in early 40's.

[xtrnuno41]

Suicide, ok you do it yourself, but you were forced by the system you live in. Technically murder then?

Your wife divorces you and you kill your self, murder? You get fired for some reason and you kill yourself, murder? 

Sometimes you get out of those worries and sometimes its enough.

You came to this world and no one asked you if you wanted it.

So ending your life is , i think , a right to do so. 

Amazingly though how it works.

There are so many people, they "live" , have nothing and dont step out and otherwise people who have it all and just step out.  

All depending when the brain pops and say its enough.

[2530Ubon]

3 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Its much the same in the UK, the drastic measures causing suicides, ruin, mental

health problems, and hunger,  tantamount to state sponsored extinction of the poor.

Anyone Googled 'The Georgia Stones'?

Oh dear - not another one.

 

I think we've all got enough real problems to deal with. Let's not worry about some idiot who chiseled some apocalyptic cr-p on a cheap imitation of stonehenge in America (the motherload of conspiracy nuts) 1979.

[superal]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

The stress among non Thai are also on the increase, having to witness the economic calamity and the restrictions of freedom and movements, while all the while unable to go back home to their respective country and thus caught between the a rock and a hard place, not a good times at all, which ever direction you look nothing bud doom and gloom... 

I can see where you are coming from but my country being the UK is a dangerous place to be right now, covid wise, and all the time here in Thailand it is much safer and warmer . The economic calamity is global bar China . Hang on in there.

[mikeymike100]

4 hours ago, starky said:

And another one and another one. This idea of locking ourselves away and everything will be great is fallcious. Eventually governments will have to give up and let people be exposed to it. The mortality rate is minimal, lockdowns clearly don't work and the vaccine is no silver bullet.

I couldn't have said it better Myself.

"There are no historical observations or scientific studies that support the confinement by quarantine of groups of possibly infected people for extended periods in order to slow the spread of influenza. A World Health Organization (WHO) Writing Group, after reviewing the literature and considering contemporary international experience, concluded that “forced isolation and quarantine are ineffective and impractical.” Despite this recommendation by experts, mandatory large-scale quarantine continues to be considered as an option by some authorities and government officials."

[Jai Dee]

A conspiracy theory troll post has been removed.

[spidermike007]

But, in reality it is stress from the economy, combined with such an astonishing lack of support from the administration. Millions of Thais live hand to mouth, from one month to the next. A reasonable subsidy would go a long way to help them out. I understand these are hard times for many, but something would help. The 3,500 baht they are planning is just not enough. 

 

Financial stress is a miserable thing to endure. So is this administration. 

[CharlieH]

A comment in poor humor/taste has been removed.

[Thomas J]

[Stevemercer]

We are not in a red zone, and most things are open. But Thai people are staying away in droves and local restaurants and services have no customers. Even schools have been closed although there is no requirement in our province for such. Thai people I talk with are scared of Covid like it is the plague. Even though the risk of dying from it is very low for the average person.

 

I would like to see more reassurance given to people that it is safe to go out and support the local economy and local jobs in the safe provinces. I can't understand how education is rated so low that schools decide to close when there is no need.

[TKDfella]

Well, we know that psychology and psychiatry are not strong points in Thailand. What did that doctor say recently? Talk to your friends to relieve stress (or something like that). Having said that, many or most Thais like to talk to the monks because their philosophy is highly respected...all the way up the ladder, so to speak. Perhaps people could ask Chief Monks for help as they might have more influence. Stress is a killer, physically and mentally and if it isn't dealt with it can spiral quickly.

[sambum]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

The stress among non Thai are also on the increase, having to witness the economic calamity and the restrictions of freedom and movements, while all the while unable to go back home to their respective country and thus caught between the a rock and a hard place, not a good times at all, which ever direction you look nothing bud doom and gloom... 

 

Very good points actually, but you can be sure that the non Thai are at the bottom of the list as far as any kind of help is concerned.

[Ireland32]

These suicides are not being reported, I only hear Murders 

[connda]

As well as world wide.  But, heck!  All the elites destroying the economies all have steady paycheck.  Screw the commoners.

[Rocking Robert]

Fighting the pandemic with poverty and despair

[The Theory]

54 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

These suicides are not being reported, I only hear Murders 

I guess the reason that are not much in news, because government don't want some others find it as a final solution (or trendy among those with problems) to their pain. 

[mr mr]

the top billionaires have increased their wealth over 1 trillion. yes with a t in 2020 alone. let that sink in.

 

this is not going to end well on so many levels. when is our species going to learn and change ? don't see it in my life and i'm only 44......great.

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by mr mr

[Natai Beach]

8 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

A Thai lady friend who owned a bar and was smart enough to sell right at the beginning of covid is sitting all day on the street selling pork sticks. 

A lot of the people who live in Natai Beach worked in Phuket and are now doing a similar thing. A new chicken sticks opened today near my house,  and a van driver I know a coffee shop last week. Many others have sprung up over the last few months. 
 

I go out of my way to support as many of them as I can, (if they are reasonably hygienic) and buy extras for friends. I try to spread myself around, going to as many as I can. Buying less food from Tesco Lotus who will survive and more from these people battling away.

 

Cheap for me but it can make a small difference to them. Plus I like their attitude, they are having a go, so I give them a go.