Pottinger Posted May 14, 2021 Share Posted May 14, 2021 Suicides rise in Thailand as Covid decimates its tourism industry Health officials compare the country’s current economic situation to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when suicide increased by over 20pc By Jack Taylor and Navaon Siradapuvadol 14 May 2021 • 12:00pm The last time 23-year-old Buddhist monk Phongphichet Pittayaseehanat spoke to his parents was over the phone on May 4. They told him where to find their belongings. A mobile phone, a power bank, and 200 baht (almost £5.00), all in a drawer in their home. Their conversation worried Mr Pittayaseehanat, so he asked a friend nearby to check in on his parents and take them some food. The couple, hardworking fruit sellers in their early 60s, were found together in their bathroom with two handwritten notes. Amid mounting debt, they had taken their own lives. Thailand has the highest rate of suicide among Southeast Asian nations. It is estimated that one person tries to kill themselves every 10 minutes. According to a 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) report, there are 14.4 suicides per 100,000 people in Thailand, whereas neighbouring Cambodia records 5.3 and the Philippines 3.2 per 100,000. The rate of suicide had already been increasing year-on-year in Thailand pre-pandemic, but during Covid-19, the figure leapt by 11 per cent from 2019 to the end of 2020, from 4,581 to 5,085 deaths, according to statistics from the Ministry for Health. Full article is here, but it's behind a paywall. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Taco Posted May 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2021 And then the advertisement under this article is a knife that cuts anything like butter. Interesting placement 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jacko45k Posted May 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2021 A sobering and sad article. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fusion58 Posted May 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2021 Quote Economic insecurity is particularly toxic... Especially in a culture where money is the only basis for respect and social status is paramount. Sad and sobering stats indeed. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomer6969 Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Land of underachievers. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caldera Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 That's shocking. I didn't realize that Thailand's suicide rate is that much higher than in other countries nearby. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Family bonds are strong in Thailand, because pensions for many Thais are a pittance compared to what a Westerner gets. When older people have miniscule income, and younger working people have none at all due to the impact of COVID, it's no surprise suicide rates would be soaring. The R word springs to mind. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harveyboy Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 a very sad article.. suicide id normally the last resort from pressure's in life (debt) a classic for some people its just s case of running up the credit .new pick up new house shopping well beyond their means..ive seen it here including amongst my family spend like there is no tomorrow but haven't got a pot to P.ss in there is no fixing stupid as for the genuine people who have lost all especially to this terrible Virus hope you all get thru it ok 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kingstonkid Posted May 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2021 3 hours ago, Boomer6969 said: Land of underachievers. I disagree with your comment. I find that the problem is that they want to achieve but do not have the tools to do it. Thailand is like a lot of South Asian countries it is consumed in the Western world ideals. Everything is about having what your friends have. It is about owning an Iphone when a normal phone will work just as well. The difference between here and let's say UK USA Canada is that there is a welfare system to help you and that there are limits on what you can borrow due to a real credit rating system. Example try buying an Iphone on credit if your rating is bottomed out in Canada. Here neither the banks the government or the people worry about it. It is a shame really but this is an advance notice of what things re going to be like for a lot of countries if they do not wake up. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colabamumbai Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Caldera said: That's shocking. I didn't realize that Thailand's suicide rate is that much higher than in other countries nearby. It's even more than foreigners here..5 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat Pie 47 Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 3 hours ago, Boomer6969 said: Land of underachievers. That's why you live there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Yes that is very sad. In my area in rural Isan everything seems to be hunky dory, new buildings, new shops, road works etc. Our village temple has started a new building project as has the council on a sports ground. In fact there is a general air of well being, possibly because we have no covid cases, in the village people have stopped wearing masks except for the kids when they go to school which starts again on Monday thank god. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said: That's why you live there IMO it's better to be treated as an overachiever in Thailand, than to be in one's home country where one is treated as a profit number. Check out the Royal Commission into Aged Care, I'd love to see our politicians forced to live in one of those dumping grounds after they retire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeptic7 Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 This place makes me think hari-kari pretty much daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender19 Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Not really the land of smiles anymore 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Very sad, and only going to get worse I'm afraid. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 19 hours ago, Boomer6969 said: Land of underachievers. Bit under the belt. Has its faults but a pretty unique place in the grand scheme of things and is why you washed up there, right? Perhaps you're a decent bloke (some boomers have a heart and can even be selfless) but wind your neck in a bit bruv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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