Picture: Manager

 

Manager said that more incidents of suicide occur in Thailand than any other ASEAN country.

 

They reported that suicide rates had been on the rise throughout the pandemic.

 

In a rather sensationalist start to their report they claimed that there were daily reports of Thais jumping into rivers because of economic stress, jumping off buildings due to other stress and shooting themselves because of businesses collapsing. 

 

They said that the suicide rate per 100,000 people had been relatively stable between 6 and 6.5 persons in the five or six years prior to the pandemic.

 

But now it had risen exponentially to 7.3.

 

These are Thai assessments. The WHO paints a grimmer picture of 14.4 per 100,000 with a world average of 10.5 according to their criteria. 

 

That still puts Thailand above a world average.

 

The top five reasons for people taking their own lives are family relationships, health concerns, alcohol use to alleviate stress, the economy and drug use.

 

Some contemplating suicide fall into more than one of these categories. 

 

Dr Phanphimon Wipulakorn, chief of mental health, noted the breakdown in family relationships increasing but acknowledged the increased stress from the breakdown of the economy and lower income. 

 

Right now there are about 53,000 to 54,000 suicide attempts each year of which approximately 4,000 are successful in Thailand. 

 

-- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-05

 

The charity Samaritans is available around the clock for people who want to talk.

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/ 

And many of the traffic deaths are  probably suicides.

Wouldn't read to much into this. As we all know many foreigners who somehow have flung themselves off a balcony whilst having their ankles bound have, according to the corrupt RTP, committed suicides. Quite why,  they opened their room safes, aparently discovered by the "investigating" police,  just  before they undertook this physical impossibility of a balcony leap, is in many cases unexplained. But TIT

The west realised back in the 1960's most famously, after Marilyn Monroe's death, that stories about suicide encourage more suicide. That's why they tend not to appear in the western press much, unless it is a celebrity, which is unfortunately unavoidable.

 

Yet here we are, posting on a story about Land of Suicides.

 

Irony much?

Highest because not every ASEAN country has a Czar Rip

21 minutes ago, Excel said:

Wouldn't read to much into this. As we all know many foreigners who somehow have flung themselves off a balcony whilst having their ankles bound have, according to the corrupt RTP, committed suicides. Quite why,  they opened their room safes, aparently discovered by the "investigating" police,  just  before they undertook this physical impossibility of a balcony leap, is in many cases unexplained. But TIT

You say that, but it seems to have died a death recently - pardon the pun.

 

My guess would be it was getting far too suspicious in number, and they are trying to find other reasons to blame a crime on.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The top five reasons for people taking their own lives are family relationships, health concerns, alcohol use to alleviate stress, the economy and drug use.

That statement does not cover it: The inability of many Thais to deal with money, flashy cars on credit, gambling and loan sharks in the current economical environment are a recipe for disaster.

I'm curious … if a Thai is suffering from economic stress, depression or mental health issues then where do they go for help .. especially if they have no money and no family support?

 

What/How would you advise them?

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

Highest because not every ASEAN country has a Czar Rip

What is a Czar Rip? …. Just Googled but no help

38 minutes ago, csmith said:

What is a Czar Rip? …. Just Googled but no help

He is immortal a general a PM a defence secretary a Covid Czar and a liar try googling that

This Government would make you want to commit suicide.... 

3 hours ago, chalawaan said:

The west realised back in the 1960's most famously, after Marilyn Monroe's death, that stories about suicide encourage more suicide. That's why they tend not to appear in the western press much, unless it is a celebrity, which is unfortunately unavoidable.

 

Yet here we are, posting on a story about Land of Suicides.

 

Irony much?

Haven't you noticed that we don't get reports on individual suicides on here anymore, although I'm sure they haven't ceased happening amongst the expat community? They use to pop up quite regularly,

 

Perhaps ASEAN NOW, have at last realized the negative impact such reports can have. I sure hope so.

 

2 hours ago, csmith said:

I'm curious … if a Thai is suffering from economic stress, depression or mental health issues then where do they go for help .. especially if they have no money and no family support?

 

What/How would you advise them?

I am not qualified to advise, but I know of two different cases where young men were in deep financial poop and they drove head on, at high speed, into an oncoming car - preferably driven by a foreigner.

This was the explanation, given by the police, to the very traumatised drivers of the cars.

Debt cleared and money left over for the family.

Death by motor accident. Not suicide.

Very sad.

 

Amazing that the suicide rate could be higher than Burma? Or maybe there is no accurate info coming from that despot nation. This is not surprising. The youth started a Facebook page on how to leave Thailand, and make a life for yourself in another country. A million members now.

 

Where is the hope? Where is the promise of a better future? With a country that is being so badly mismanaged, and an economy that is being destroyed and sabotaged before our eyes, one can easily become despondent. How will things change, if the youth is not even allowed to show dissent? How to get rid of the dinosaurs once and for all. And unlike in the past, there is absolutely no moral leadership of any kind here anymore. 

 

Very sad. For those of us lucky enough to have a steady income, it is sad, but we live good lives. My heart really goes out to most of the Thai people. Their lives are being crushed. Woe is Thailand. 

8 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

And many of the traffic deaths are  probably suicides.

yep, if I was going to do it i'd certainly use a motorbike and make it look like an accident

Most of the farang deaths are suicide. So they want you to believe. Especially on koh Tao (death island) What happened to the millionaire husband and wife who died last month. That's all gone very very quiet.

 

 

Thai statistics- it is only counted as a suicide if the person dies immediately at the scene.

Anyone who dies during the ambulance pickup delivery or in the hospital cardboard bed is not counted......

same as the RTA stats...

For anyone more interested, can check CNA's Documentary on this and more.

Full Documentary On their Official YouTube at: 

 

 

A short version here:

 

 

You can also check their Undercover Asia series, Season 8 on official site:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video-on-demand/undercover-asia

 

Thai one is 1st Episode:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video-on-demand/undercover-asia/the-suicide-epidemic-thailand-14276024

 

CNA Also has many other good Documentaries like "Why it Matters" in the VOD section.

 

Stay strong everyone, and power on.  Su Su ????

 

deleted 

18 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Highest because not every ASEAN country has a Czar Rip

Tell me an Asean country who's politics Thailand should emulate

21 hours ago, chalawaan said:

The west realised back in the 1960's most famously, after Marilyn Monroe's death, that stories about suicide encourage more suicide. That's why they tend not to appear in the western press much, unless it is a celebrity, which is unfortunately unavoidable.

 

Yet here we are, posting on a story about Land of Suicides.

 

Irony much?

Interesting post. Perhaps "stories about suicide" differs from 'talking about suicide openly'. It is a fallacy that 'talking about suicide' prompts others to attempt or complete suicide, also that asking someone about ideations of suicide encourages and supports completion in these individuals. Such notions are not true. I share this post as a mental health clinician of 30 years practice.