Seek company for good of your mental health, MHD says

The Nation

The Mental Health Department yesterday urged stranded flood victims to move to evacuation centres, as the prolonged inundation could hurt their mental health.

"You will feel lonely and alienated. All you can see is water. There is nothing you can do and you just have to wait for help," the department's deputy director general Dr Kiartibhumi Wongrajit said.

He said without electricity and tap water, the stranded flood victims would likely develop mentalhealth problems within two weeks.

"The more severe the flooding is and the longer it lasts, the more impacts on people's mental health becomes," Kiartibhumi said.

He added that the mental health of many floodhit people had already suffered, especially from stress.

He said it would be better for flood victims to stay at evacuation centres where they could talk to other floodhit people and do activities together.

"At the evacuation centres, they can even transform themselves from flood victims into helpers," he pointed out.

According to him, most people who have chosen to stay at their flooded homes are elderly who are either worried about their properties or about that life would be more difficult elsewhere.

Kiartibhumi said the Public Health Ministry had already dispatched mobile teams to take care of the mental/physical health of floodhit people.

Moreover, three field hospitals were yesterday set up in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. One is located at the Car Care Centre at Bang Phlu Intersection in Nonthaburi. Two others are in Pathum Thani, one at the Provincial Hall and the other at the TU Dome.

To date, the number of field hospitals operated by the Public Health Ministry has risen to 20. Of them, 15 are located in Ayutthaya.

Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani are among the latest provinces to face serious impacts from raging floods.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said people would have to plan something for possible flooding too.

"For example, they should stock food and water because transportation problems may affect officials' delivery of help," he pointed out.

-- The Nation 2011-10-22

"You will feel lonely and alienated. All you can see is water. There is nothing you can do and you just have to wait for help," the department's deputy director general Dr Kiartibhumi Wongrajit said.

He said without electricity and tap water, the stranded flood victims would likely develop mentalhealth problems within two weeks.

I aeeeh got to see a mental hospital after reading this guy's words. Hope they respond there at the See Maha Poo....

hmmm .... lots of people seeking company and doing activities together at Nana Plaza .... maybe it should be declared an expat evacuation center

sorry the devil made me say that

hmmm .... lots of people seeking company and doing activities together at Nana Plaza .... maybe it should be declared an expat evacuation center

sorry the devil made me say that

Cowgirls on stage?

"You will feel lonely and alienated. All you can see is water. There is nothing you can do and you just have to wait for help," the department's deputy director general Dr Kiartibhumi Wongrajit said.

He said without electricity and tap water, the stranded flood victims would likely develop mentalhealth problems within two weeks.

I aeeeh got to see a mental hospital after reading this guy's words. Hope they respond there at the See Maha Poo....

I have been alone without my wife while the village slowly flooded for a week. I can tell you its a relief now she is here too. Being all alone and only understanding parts of what is being said by village announcers plus the ever rising water can put a lot of stress on someone.

The sad aspect of this "mental health" crisis is that Thailand doesn't have professionals trained to deal with the situation. Psychologists and psychiatrists are in very short supply. In a situation like this, one would put the most effort in taking care of the children, but unfortunately the teachers of Thailand do not have training in dealing with damaged kids. I suppose we'll be treated to a few months of terrified insecure kids acting up as they displace their worries.

The sad aspect of this "mental health" crisis is that Thailand doesn't have professionals trained to deal with the situation. Psychologists and psychiatrists are in very short supply. In a situation like this, one would put the most effort in taking care of the children, but unfortunately the teachers of Thailand do not have training in dealing with damaged kids. I suppose we'll be treated to a few months of terrified insecure kids acting up as they displace their worries.

Kid really big part of the problems is the lying government, i spoke with some people in our village as the water came up to my middle. They all agree the government made it worse with lying. If they had given us the truth we could have prepared better. The trust (if there even was trust in what a government is saying) is gone.

I was going crazy with the news changing all the time not knowing what to believe.

This is madness

Health officials or mental health professionals?

So many people stand to lose so much......

Solving this disaster? Getting back to one's life? No..... seek companionship get a boyfriend or girlfriend....have a child out of wedlock....have a fling....extramarital or whatever....then everything will be fine......

Don't make yourself sick by trying to find solutions or think or act rationally...

Thanks for nothing, Doc....

Edited October 22, 201114 yr by SOTIRIOS

"You will feel lonely and alienated. All you can see is water. There is nothing you can do and you just have to wait for help," the department's deputy director general Dr Kiartibhumi Wongrajit said.

He said without electricity and tap water, the stranded flood victims would likely develop mentalhealth problems within two weeks.

I aeeeh got to see a mental hospital after reading this guy's words. Hope they respond there at the See Maha Poo....

I have been alone without my wife while the village slowly flooded for a week. I can tell you its a relief now she is here too. Being all alone and only understanding parts of what is being said by village announcers plus the ever rising water can put a lot of stress on someone.

I tried it once for a week, but electric, phone and computer were OK.

That is easy. I had full stock of food and spent a lot time cooking, searching internet, reading and drinking alone.

But without electric, phone and internet, not knowing what is going on, like alone in the jail seems to be difficult and needs discipline I guess.

The sad aspect of this "mental health" crisis is that Thailand doesn't have professionals trained to deal with the situation. Psychologists and psychiatrists are in very short supply. In a situation like this, one would put the most effort in taking care of the children, but unfortunately the teachers of Thailand do not have training in dealing with damaged kids. I suppose we'll be treated to a few months of terrified insecure kids acting up as they displace their worries.

Yeah and if you are a foreigner trained to be a psychologist are you prohibited from plying your profession here!?

Let's party folks and chase the blues away !!

"You will feel lonely and alienated. All you can see is water. There is nothing you can do and you just have to wait for help," the department's deputy director general Dr Kiartibhumi Wongrajit said.

He said without electricity and tap water, the stranded flood victims would likely develop mentalhealth problems within two weeks.

I aeeeh got to see a mental hospital after reading this guy's words. Hope they respond there at the See Maha Poo....

I have been alone without my wife while the village slowly flooded for a week. I can tell you its a relief now she is here too. Being all alone and only understanding parts of what is being said by village announcers plus the ever rising water can put a lot of stress on someone.

I tried it once for a week, but electric, phone and computer were OK.

That is easy. I had full stock of food and spent a lot time cooking, searching internet, reading and drinking alone.

But without electric, phone and internet, not knowing what is going on, like alone in the jail seems to be difficult and needs discipline I guess.

Its more missing out on the communication and stuff. The news is real local of course. Now if the speakers started to go i could only make part of it. So that puts stress, plus the water rising. Alone in a home for a week.. no problem.. but with a threat and no info.. is different.