A Suicide Every 2 Hours, Health Ministry Warn

[Mid]

SOCIETY

A suicide every 2 hours, health ministry warn

Every two hours someone in Thailand commits suicide, with mental illness, depression and alcohol abuse the main triggers, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Deputy Public Health Minister Vallop Thainuea told a seminar on suicide prevention in Lamphun province yesterday that some 4,000 Thais commit suicide every year. That is the equivalent to 13 people a day or one every two hours.

The Post Publishing Public Co

another figure that will get worse before it gets better .

and cue the naysayers ...................

[Neeranam]

It's about time the doctors took some responsibiity. Handing out dangerous drugs like valium and xanax to alcoholics and drug adicts is just adding to the problems.

[mellow1]

How long have people been killing themselves at the rate of 1 every 2 hrs.Did it start today?

Why aren't stories like this in the newspapers.

What a tragic situation.Will the government reach out to these types of individuals,and try to find a way to fix this situation?

[Luckydog]

The Thais appear to be excessively predisposed to 'topping themselves' when thwarted in Love.

My GF drank a bottle of Insecticide when her Thai git of a Husband "Butterflyed" a few years ago.

In fact she tried three times to do herself in!

Not a thought about what would happen to her three kids!

(Yes I know Farangs kill themselves too..........)

If they don't kill themselves they will often kill their doublecrossing Partner......Crazy lot!

[sriracha john]

The Thais appear to be excessively predisposed to 'topping themselves' when thwarted in Love.

My GF drank a bottle of Insecticide when her Thai git of a Husband "Butterflyed" a few years ago.

In fact she tried three times to do herself in!

Not a thought about what would happen to her three kids!

(Yes I know Farangs kill themselves too..........)

If they don't kill themselves they will often kill their doublecrossing Partner......Crazy lot!

Interesting theory... the thing is though... the World Health Organization statistics point to the exact opposite finding...

but good try, however, keep at it and perhaps next time you'll be right about something.

Suicide Rates (per 100,000)

A representative sampling....

AUSTRALIA

Males 21.2

Females 5.1

CANADA

Males 19.5

Females 5.1

CHINA

Males 13.0

Females 14.8

GERMANY

Males 20.2

Females 7.3

INDIA

Males 12.2

Females 9.1

JAPAN 99

Males 36.5

Females 14.1

FRANCE

Males 26.1

Females 9.4

KOREA

Males 18.8

Females 8.3

SWEDEN

Males 19.7

Females 8.0

UNITED KINGDOM

Males 11.8

Females 3.3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Males 17.6

Females 4.1

......as for Thailand.....

Males 5.6

Females 2.4

[JetsetBkk]

Interesting theory... the thing is though... the World Health Organization statistics point to the exact opposite finding...

but good try, however, keep at it and perhaps next time you'll be right about something.

Suicide Rates (per 100,000)

A representative sampling....

<snip>

......as for Thailand.....

Males 5.6

Females 2.4

I got some different data from WHO here - http://www.who.int/mental_health/preventio...s/en/index.html

Here, they say Thailand's rate is

Males 12.0

Females 3.8

This data from 2002.

Maybe they included the male farang 'suicides'....

[WaiWai]

One every two hours is way too many for a fairly small country.

More in the northern provinces than the southern, but few details were given about the most affected groups - more information about that would be very interesting.

Definitely, better awareness & treatment of mental health problems is needed. Rice wine "cancelling effects of medication" can only be a part of the story.

Edited July 7, 2007 by WaiWai

[WaiWai]

Some results from a google :

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the characteristic features of suicides in Thailand between 1998 and 2003. Collected data during 1998–2003 from the Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health were analyzed to reveal the mortality from suicide according to age, gender, rate and methods of suicides. Suicide rates were found to have increased to a peak of 8.6 per 100 000 (5290 suicides) in 1999 and then to have decreased to 7.1 per 100 000 in 2003. The average suicide rate during 1998–2003 was 7.9 per 100 000 with a male to female ratio of 3.4:1. Male suicide reached a peak for those aged 25–29 years (21.9 per 100 000) while female suicide showed less variation with age. Hanging was the most common method used, followed by ingestion of agricultural toxic substances. Suicide was most prevalent in upper northern region where HIV infection might be related to the high prevalence. Suicide prevention program should focus on males in early adulthood, and particular measures should be conducted to reduce risk factors related to HIV infection among people in northern Thailand

Suicide using pesticides as agent is recognized as a majorcause of pesticidepoisoning.Methods A literature review of mortality and morbidity studies related to suicide amongpesticide-exposed populations,and of humanand animalstudies of central nervous systemtoxicity related to organophosphate (OP) pesticides was performed.Results Suicide rates are high in farming populations. Animal studies link OPexposure toserotonin disturbances in the central nervous system, which are implicated in depressionand suicide in humans. Epidemiological studies conclude that acute and chronic OPexposure is associated with affective disorders. Case series and ecological studies alsosupport a causal association between OP use and suicide.Conclusions OPs are not only agents for suicide. They may be part of the causal pathway.Emphasizing OPs solely as agents for suicide shifts responsibility for prevention to theindividual, reducing corporate responsibility and limiting policy options available forcontrol. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:308–321, 2005.ß2005 Wiley-Liss

The Rural Thai villagers walk away from people at the slightest possibility of trouble, though they can express aggressiveness in covert ways such as through gossip or supposedly inadvertent slips of the tongue. But they have little toleration for direct, face-to-face aggression. Magic and witchcraft appear to be a very minor and little-used forms of aggressiveness. One form of violence—suicide—is sometimes used in interpersonal conflict situations, though usually individuals will resort to conspicuous, but unsuccessful, attempts at suicide to dramatize their causes.

The last quote is from http://www.peacefulsocieties.org/Society/RuralThai.html .

[lazeeboy]

Some results from a google :

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the characteristic features of suicides in Thailand between 1998 and 2003. Collected data during 1998–2003 from the Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health were analyzed to reveal the mortality from suicide according to age, gender, rate and methods of suicides. Suicide rates were found to have increased to a peak of 8.6 per 100 000 (5290 suicides) in 1999 and then to have decreased to 7.1 per 100 000 in 2003. The average suicide rate during 1998–2003 was 7.9 per 100 000 with a male to female ratio of 3.4:1. Male suicide reached a peak for those aged 25–29 years (21.9 per 100 000) while female suicide showed less variation with age. Hanging was the most common method used, followed by ingestion of agricultural toxic substances. Suicide was most prevalent in upper northern region where HIV infection might be related to the high prevalence. Suicide prevention program should focus on males in early adulthood, and particular measures should be conducted to reduce risk factors related to HIV infection among people in northern Thailand

Suicide using pesticides as agent is recognized as a majorcause of pesticidepoisoning.Methods A literature review of mortality and morbidity studies related to suicide amongpesticide-exposed populations,and of humanand animalstudies of central nervous systemtoxicity related to organophosphate (OP) pesticides was performed.Results Suicide rates are high in farming populations. Animal studies link OPexposure toserotonin disturbances in the central nervous system, which are implicated in depressionand suicide in humans. Epidemiological studies conclude that acute and chronic OPexposure is associated with affective disorders. Case series and ecological studies alsosupport a causal association between OP use and suicide.Conclusions OPs are not only agents for suicide. They may be part of the causal pathway.Emphasizing OPs solely as agents for suicide shifts responsibility for prevention to theindividual, reducing corporate responsibility and limiting policy options available forcontrol. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:308–321, 2005.ß2005 Wiley-Liss

The Rural Thai villagers walk away from people at the slightest possibility of trouble, though they can express aggressiveness in covert ways such as through gossip or supposedly inadvertent slips of the tongue. But they have little toleration for direct, face-to-face aggression. Magic and witchcraft appear to be a very minor and little-used forms of aggressiveness. One form of violence—suicide—is sometimes used in interpersonal conflict situations, though usually individuals will resort to conspicuous, but unsuccessful, attempts at suicide to dramatize their causes.

The last quote is from http://www.peacefulsocieties.org/Society/RuralThai.html .

you have to be in a right state to top yourself ,is there any support groups in thailand to help these poor people?

[solo siam]

Suicide rate is far higher in the UK etc... and has been for decades, and that's with better mental healthcare, why should this rate startle us?

[slapout]

I am always happy to see different numbers quoted by the same group on different days and by different people. If the farong who had 2 gunshots to the head was not included in these numbers I would respect them, but if this death was included in our police report as a solved death by suicide and this was included in these numbers I would have to have a second thought. I have become a real skeptic when people start quoting numbers and % pts. as I feel they think there is no argument with this gobblegope.

[slapout]

Sorry to post twice, but I wonder what the suicide rate is in the Muslim countries over the past 7 years. Has it increased, if so why and by what % are we talking about? Compare those countries to the rest of the world.

[WaiWai]

Cannot be sure these numbers are current, but :

Samaritans of Thailand

P.O. Box 63

Por Nor For Santisuk

10113

BANGKOK

Contact by: Face to Face - Phone - Letter: - E-mail:

Hotline: (02) 713-6793

Website: geocities.com/samaritansthai

E-mail Helpline: [email protected]

Hours:

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 12:00 - 22:00

Centres

Samaritans of Chiang Mai

PO Box 123

50000

CHIANG MAI

Hotline: (53) 225 977/8

Website: geocities.com/samaritansthai

[mrtoad]

Until the MOH look at what contributes to alcohol and drug abuse, depression and other mental illnesses then they may get somewhere.

It was rather dissapointing in this day and age to hear a senior person from the MOH appearing to lay most of the blame on rice wine.

This again shows the lack of understanding of Suicide by the department, and that is why the Psychiatric services here are so hit and miss. I would imagine the lack of cohesive social and health services providing support for these people is a contributing factor along with social depravation and the cultural difference is understaniding, accepting and trating mental illness. Just to clarify not all people who commit suicide are necesarilly mentally ill.

I hope that in the future they will start to put some more emphasis on this area of health and reduce these often preventable deaths.

Edited July 7, 2007 by mrtoad

[altman]

Until the MOH look at what contributes to alcohol and drug abuse, depression and other mental illnesses then they may get somewhere.

It was rather dissapointing in this day and age to hear a senior person from the MOH appearing to lay most of the blame on rice wine.

This again shows the lack of understanding of Suicide by the department, and that is why the Psychiatric services here are so hit and miss. I would imagine the lack of cohesive social and health services providing support for these people is a contributing factor along with social depravation and the cultural difference is understaniding, accepting and trating mental illness. Just to clarify not all people who commit suicide are necesarilly mentally ill.

I hope that in the future they will start to put some more emphasis on this area of health and reduce these often preventable deaths.

this all seems to assign those who commit suicide to the category of 'those poor people' or the 'mentally ill'. both denigrating designations.

suicide, defined in the broadest terms as the taking of one's own life, may be a rational end of life option for many. it is not necessarily a shameful act carried out by cowards, but can be a rational act carried out by those willing to face a darkness beyond our understanding in preference to the pain they endure in this life.

time to start considering your own end of life choices. whether by doctor, nature, or self, it will end.

see euthanasiaclinic.com for more

[Luckydog]

Interesting theory... the thing is though... the World Health Organization statistics point to the exact opposite finding...

but good try, however, keep at it and perhaps next time you'll be right about something.

Suicide Rates (per 100,000)

A representative sampling....

<snip>

......as for Thailand.....

Males 5.6

Females 2.4

I got some different data from WHO here - http://www.who.int/mental_health/preventio...s/en/index.html

Here, they say Thailand's rate is

Males 12.0

Females 3.8

This data from 2002.

Maybe they included the male farang 'suicides'....

Keep on trying Sriracha (big mouth) John and perhaps one day YOU will be right about something. Though I doubt it....Hhahahahaha

[sriracha john]

Interesting theory... the thing is though... the World Health Organization statistics point to the exact opposite finding...

but good try, however, keep at it and perhaps next time you'll be right about something.

Suicide Rates (per 100,000)

A representative sampling....

<snip>

......as for Thailand.....

Males 5.6

Females 2.4

I got some different data from WHO here - http://www.who.int/mental_health/preventio...s/en/index.html

Here, they say Thailand's rate is

Males 12.0

Females 3.8

This data from 2002.

Maybe they included the male farang 'suicides'....

Keep on trying Sriracha (big mouth) John and perhaps one day YOU will be right about something. Though I doubt it....Hhahahahaha

Have another beer and realize that even with the updated numbers, Thailand still has far fewer suicides than your speculation indicates.

[Luckydog]

Look John I never compared Thai Suicides with any other Land. I just observed that they are rather quick to Top themselves. Thats all.....I'll have that beer now if you are buying?

[t.s]

How long have people been killing themselves at the rate of 1 every 2 hrs.Did it start today?

Why aren't stories like this in the newspapers.

What a tragic situation.Will the government reach out to these types of individuals,and try to find a way to fix this situation?

you mean like the bangkok post article quoted in the op?

[Mid]

Social ills a top concern, PM says

DARANA CHUDASRI

Development strategy must focus more on addressing the country's social ills rather than emphasising economic growth, according to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. Gen Surayud noted that since the eighth national economic and social development plan in 1997, policymakers have increasingly sought to focus on human development and quality of life rather than simply economic growth.

He acknowledged that since the government was formed last October, some had questioned whether the focus on sufficiency economics meant that Thailand would turn inwards and against market liberalisation.

The Post Publishing Public Co

[kmart]

Until the MOH look at what contributes to alcohol and drug abuse, depression and other mental illnesses then they may get somewhere.

It was rather dissapointing in this day and age to hear a senior person from the MOH appearing to lay most of the blame on rice wine.

This again shows the lack of understanding of Suicide by the department, and that is why the Psychiatric services here are so hit and miss. I would imagine the lack of cohesive social and health services providing support for these people is a contributing factor along with social depravation and the cultural difference is understaniding, accepting and trating mental illness. Just to clarify not all people who commit suicide are necesarilly mentally ill.

I hope that in the future they will start to put some more emphasis on this area of health and reduce these often preventable deaths.

this all seems to assign those who commit suicide to the category of 'those poor people' or the 'mentally ill'. both denigrating designations.

suicide, defined in the broadest terms as the taking of one's own life, may be a rational end of life option for many. it is not necessarily a shameful act carried out by cowards, but can be a rational act carried out by those willing to face a darkness beyond our understanding in preference to the pain they endure in this life.

time to start considering your own end of life choices. whether by doctor, nature, or self, it will end.

see euthanasiaclinic.com for more

Thanks for that, Mr Cheerful. And now over to the Sports Desk with Bob....

[meemiathai]

this all seems to assign those who commit suicide to the category of 'those poor people' or the 'mentally ill'. both denigrating designations.

suicide, defined in the broadest terms as the taking of one's own life, may be a rational end of life option for many. it is not necessarily a shameful act carried out by cowards, but can be a rational act carried out by those willing to face a darkness beyond our understanding in preference to the pain they endure in this life.

time to start considering your own end of life choices. whether by doctor, nature, or self, it will end.

see euthanasiaclinic.com for more

Agreed. Sometimes people might find it really boring to live.

[kmart]

this all seems to assign those who commit suicide to the category of 'those poor people' or the 'mentally ill'. both denigrating designations.

suicide, defined in the broadest terms as the taking of one's own life, may be a rational end of life option for many. it is not necessarily a shameful act carried out by cowards, but can be a rational act carried out by those willing to face a darkness beyond our understanding in preference to the pain they endure in this life.

time to start considering your own end of life choices. whether by doctor, nature, or self, it will end.

see euthanasiaclinic.com for more

Agreed. Sometimes people might find it really boring to live.

Then posting on here could probably be a healthier alternative. Marginally.