Mental Illnesses Prevalent Among Thai Border Residents

[Lite Beer]

Mental illnesses prevalent among border residents after clashes

BANGKOK, 15 February 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has found several Thai-Cambodian border residents suffering from mental illnesses following the recent border clashes and has tasked village health volunteers to take care of them.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit reported that 72 mobile medical units had been dispatched to Thai-Cambodian border provinces of Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani and Surin to examine the locals’ well-being after a series of artillery exchanges broke out between soldiers of both sides earlier this month. Based on the checkup of 10,000 residents, 36 percent had physical illnesses, such as cold and fatigue, and were given treatments.

Mental health tests were also given to 4,813 individuals and discovered that nearly 2,000 of them were undergoing stress. Of the group, 638 cases or 32.48 percent had a fairly high level of depression and another 73 cases or 11.4 percent were extremely high. Ten patients also had a tendency to commit suicide.

Therefore, Mr Jurin asserted that the Ministry would soon launch a mental rehabilitation program with the help of village health volunteers. The program will divide patients into three categories, comprising the general public who will be visited by the volunteers once a month, patients with stress to be visited once a week and those with severe depression who will be given special attention and medications on a daily basis.

-- NNT 2011-02-15

[londonthai]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

[ginjag]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

If the powers that be do not soften/relax a little on the border runs, there will be thousands of farrangs joining the mental brigade.

[Nisa]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

Yea, I saw the headline and thought maybe chemical weapons were involved that caused retardation among the border residents.

However it could be a cultural thing. I have had to explain to a number of Thais what a psychiatrist is. I get the feeling they see anybody who has a need or seeks psychological help as being "sick"

[yellow1red1]

they should put there mental health probes into those yellow and red geese and sheep.

talk about MANIA!

[Credo]

Of course, they could just sit down and solve the border issue and that would eliminate the mental problems caused by the current situation.

[NanLaew]

I agree, another mangulation of the translation. These people are stressed, not mentally ill.

However, the reds and yellows stirring the pot on this issue are totally Upney.

[marc11864]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

You're a doctor I presume and can make that analysis through telepathy.

[tim armstrong]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

Yea, I saw the headline and thought maybe chemical weapons were involved that caused retardation among the border residents.

However it could be a cultural thing. I have had to explain to a number of Thais what a psychiatrist is. I get the feeling they see anybody who has a need or seeks psychological help as being "sick"

I think what they are talking about is what western health systems describe as 'post traumatic stress disorder,' and yes it is a recognised psychiatric condition that can be treated. The high incidence of depression is not so far from international norms and is easily explained by the constant tension and dislocation of people along the border. The 'suicide' figure is low by international standards. A problem with this study is there is no mention of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other serious mental illnesses which may skew the figures.

The response with health volunteers also seems a bit tokenistic. These problems don't go away in a few weeks, particularly, if family members have gone missing, been tortured, or killed. All of which is highly possible in this scenario, but gets little media coverage.

[Nisa]

stress is not an illness

"fairly high level of depression" is understandable under circumstances and is temporary, so rather not an illness.

in the thread title should be rather about "mental and emotional health" rather than "illness"

Yea, I saw the headline and thought maybe chemical weapons were involved that caused retardation among the border residents.

However it could be a cultural thing. I have had to explain to a number of Thais what a psychiatrist is. I get the feeling they see anybody who has a need or seeks psychological help as being "sick"

I think what they are talking about is what western health systems describe as 'post traumatic stress disorder,' and yes it is a recognised psychiatric condition that can be treated. The high incidence of depression is not so far from international norms and is easily explained by the constant tension and dislocation of people along the border. The 'suicide' figure is low by international standards. A problem with this study is there is no mention of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other serious mental illnesses which may skew the figures.

The response with health volunteers also seems a bit tokenistic. These problems don't go away in a few weeks, particularly, if family members have gone missing, been tortured, or killed. All of which is highly possible in this scenario, but gets little media coverage.

Agree with what you are saying but I don't think recent events raised to the level of citizens being secretly arrested, kidnapped, tortured or killed.

[tim armstrong]

Nisa,

You maybe right. But its a very grey area that successive Thai governments don't want to know about, and usually leave it up to International NGOs to sort out. The 'recent events' often happen in the dry season each year when other issues like the trafficking of people and drugs takes place. As well the various macho groups having a shot at each other are also active. Many people would probably not be aware that much of the border was closed 2 weeks ago. The combined effect on a large, dispossessed and transient population is significant. Regards.

[jayjay0]

Just returned from a trip into Issan. Drove through many villages. If these villages are any thing like the ones in the effected area I would have a hard time figuring out where they are going to get some one in the village to take part in this plan. Most of them are busy trying to make a living. The ones with a education to carry out this plan I am sure are employed else where. As I said drove through them but I did stay in one for two days So my observations are not completely baseless.

At first when I saw the headline I thought that the yellow spines had all gone there to profess there righteousness and had giving the figure a huge boost.

As I say I was away did they even send there supplies.