Suicides down, but figures rising for elderly

By The Nation

Suicide rates have fallen dramatically over the past 14 years, but in a disturbing trend, the number of very elderly Thais killing themselves has outstripped that for young adults in the past five years, the Mental Health Department said yesterday.

The overall number of suicides fell from 5,700 in 1997 to 3,700 last year. Since 2006, however, the number of Thais aged 80-84 who kill themselves has exceeded suicides in the 20-29 age group, according to the department, which did not offer any explanation for the trend.

Chiang Mai still has the nation's highest average suicide rate, with 20.4 suicides per 100,000 people, followed by Lamphun (20.2), Chiang Rai (15.63), Mae Hong Son (14.45) and Nan (13.03).

The department's director-general, Dr Aphichai Mongkhol, attributed the relatively high suicide rates in the North to cultural factors including a local tendency to flaunt wealth, combined with strong peer pressure and a traditional reluctance to seek counselling.

Some analysts attribute higher suicide rates among the elderly to a lack of self-esteem, long-term ailments, loneliness and a decline in care of older relatives by the young.

In decreasing order, the most common methods of suicide in Thailand are hanging, poisoning and gunshot.

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, September 10, the department is jointly organising an exhibition titled "Love Yourself" with Central Group starting Thursday, September 8.

-- The Nation 2011-09-06

2010 suicide rate concluded at 3,700 people

BANGKOK, 6 September 2011 (NNT) – A statistical report by the Department of Mental Health has concluded that there were about 3,700 people committing suicide in 2010 alone or ten persons each day, but the trend is on a decline.

According to Mental Health Department Director-General Medical Doctor Apichai Mongkol, the department has been collecting data on suicide rate in Thailand since 1997. There were 5,700 people committing suicide in 1999 or 8 persons per a population size of 100,000.

However, after the department launched a campaign on suicide prevention in 1999, the suicide rate fell gradually to stand at 3,761 people in 2010 or 5.9 persons per 100,000 people or 10 persons each day.

Men were found to have higher suicide rate than women at 9.29 and 2.62 persons per a population size of 100,000 respectively. People aged 80-84, 75-79 and 70-74 years old have highest suicide rates of 10.73, 10.19 and 8.37 persons per 100,000 people respectively.

Top five provinces with highest suicide rates are Lamphun (20.02), Chiang Rai (15.63), Mae Hong Son (14.45), Nan (13.03) and Chiang Mai (12.47) while top five provinces with lowest suicide rates are Pattani (0.77), Nong Khai (1.76), Narathiwat (1.77), Yala (1.86) and Phichit (2.17).

Top suicide approaches are by hanging at 66.42%, followed by taking pesticide at 19.81%, taking medicine at 4.28%, taking chemical substances or poison at 3.67%, shooting at 3.11% and others at 2.71%.

-- NNT 2011-09-06