A young woman in my extended Thai family is showing all the classic symptoms of clinical depression.  Spending most of the day sleeping, listlessness, Getting a job and abandoning it days later, lack of enthusiasm for much of anything.  Previously, she was bright, personable and very active.

We talked recently.  She allowed that she didn't know what was wrong but she "felt dead inside" and that nothing makes her feel happy.

I have good knowledge of what depression is but conveying that to her is challenging.  Our age gap and the usual cultural issues that make discussion of mental health difficult doesn't help  I am willing to fund therapy but she must first understand for herself what she is dealing with and be willing to address it.

I am seeking links to some good resource material in Thai language that accurately describes the symptoms of depression and discusses treatment options.

  

Good luck with that, my wife has teenage sons, that probably fit that description everytime they are sent to help the grandparents bag the rice, or get asked to help out around the house.

Where are you located?

If coming to Chiang Mai is an option, Dr. Kittiwan Thiamkaew is a senior psychiatrist at Suan Prung Hospital.

She also has a clinic at 78 Samlan Rd., Phra Sing, Muang district, Chiang Mai.

This lady is at the top of her profession and is highly respected among the expat community as well as her many Thai patients.

Clinical depression is quite a talk of the town now in Thailand because some celebs commit suicide because of major depressive disorder. Maybe you can mention โรคซึมเศร้า ( 'Roke seum sao' , major depressive disorder / clinical depression ) to her casually if the conversation goes that way?

I'm not coming up with much  not geared to mental health professionals though I am sure there have been many articles in Thai pop media.  Would probably need a Thai speaker to ferret those out.

 

In my experience most Thais are not given to learning new information through reading. The Thai style of learning  is strongly interpersonal. She would likely do better having lot verbally explained to her by another Thai. (It is also unlikely she has never heard of it...but she may fear stigma in getting help, plus of course the very nature of depression works against taking action).

 

In other words I would have her talk to  a mental health professional first rather than trying to get her to read up on the condition first.

 

She can also talk, online and anonymously, with staff at the Dept of Mental's Health's Hotline

https://www.facebook.com/helpline1323/

Line @helpline1323

 

How good they are and how well they are likely to explain things, I have no idea

 

Might also like to put her in touch with  Samaritans of Thailand

 

http://www.samaritansthai.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, JingerBen said:

f coming to Chiang Mai is an option, Dr. Kittiwan Thiamkaew is a senior psychiatrist at Suan Prung Hospital.

Thanks for this referral. Unfortunately, we are in Bangkok.

14 hours ago, PPMMUU said:

Clinical depression is quite a talk of the town now in Thailand because some celebs commit suicide because of major depressive disorder. Maybe you can mention โรคซึมเศร้า ( 'Roke seum sao' , major depressive disorder / clinical depression ) to her casually if the conversation goes that way?

Thanks.  Having that specific terminology could be very helpful.

Thanks Sheryl, as always, for your suggestions.