Schizophrenia, Dementia, ( And Other Mental Illnesses ) In Thailand.

[theblether]

If the mods can forgive such a long OP, I've put it into General as it covers many points, not just health.

I was walking down a Soi with my father while we were on vacation last year and I noticed a young man behaving erratically to say the least. It didn't take me ling to deduce that this young fellow was suffering from some type of mental disturbance. I see enough people suffering the effects of chemical induced disturbance to know that was not the case in this particular case.

Being the inquisitive type I asked a few of my Thai friends about mental health care in Thailand, and I was a little bit surprised by the answers received. Before we go any further none of my friends in this case were medical professionals, so I can't add any weight to their thoughts. One of them pointed out that good work was being done by Suangprung Psychiatric Hospital.......................

http://www.suanprung.go.th/eng/suanprung.php

..............others spoke about the burden that falls upon the family in many cases, and a couple spoke about their experiences while on retreat in their Temples. They said it was not uncommon for people with mental disturbance to be admitted to long term care within the temples, and in many cases the routine, the pastoral care, and the fact that many people in the temple had sufficient time and interest in them, there could be a marked improvement. Once again, I cannot add weight to what I was told, does anyone else here have knowledge of the work done by the Temples in regards to mental health?

On a recent visit to Chiang Mai I came across a Canadian national who was quite clearly breaking down, in his case he was using yabba on a daily basis, however the level of his mental disturbance went much further than that. Incidentally I have spent enough time around both drug users and people suffering from mental disturbance in the past to be able to tell the difference.

There was a news story today in the Phuket forum of a quite tragic murder of a 17 year old Thai girl. The level of violence seemed quite extraordinary, and although the attack doesn't seem to be random, as one of the members pointed out, it was quite evil. That got me thinking about some of the cases I've seen of this type violence before, and led me to think about schizophrenia. This condition is hard enough to control in the West, I was wondering what the prevalence of this condition was in Thailand, I found this report.

http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/8/1/24/

It's obviously a very serious issue, and the report gives some guidance as to Thai research into the matter, so that then started another thought running in my mind. A lot of the farang population Thailand is ageing, and conditions such as senile dementia and others that tend to effect the elderly must be starting to rise. I have seen one or two examples of farangs on the edge ( possibly over the edge ) of insanity, however I believe many members can recount stories of people who literally and metaphorically lost it.

That's concerning, as it's difficult enough for people in full possession of their faculties to get help from the Embassies, I wonder how many people are beginning to suffer the consequences of advanced years mental health problems without assistance.

It may appear comical, however we have people here on Thaivisa presenting themselves with multiple personalities too, I can't name them as that would be a step too far, but sit back and have a look at some of the posts you read here, have a look at the ebb and flow pattern of some of the individuals posts, and you will start to see a pattern emerge. I seriously fear for the mental health of some contributors, but setting that to the side, we have recently seen examples of malicious misrepresentation, such as a particular male member that passed them self off as being female on this forum.

Anyway, that's as maybe, that's all part of the cut and thrust of internet forums, I'm more interested in the general points I have raised, these being........

Have you had any experience of helping or arranging treatment for people with mental disturbance in Thailand?

Do you have any knowledge of the works that the Temples do in this area?

Do you know of anyone who is suffering from dementia type illnesses in Thailand?

Are you personally concerned about any of these issues? In the case of a dementia type illness do you have a plan for coping in later life?

All serious issues, and issues that know no national boundaries.

ps Don't bother asking me which members I think are mental, it's quite a long list

[smokie36]

I've laid out some mattresses in the local Bedlam for these poor souls....we can only wish them well.

I met one in Samui who was frankly beyond help to me...a young German girl who I believe was eventually repatriated. God help those without family or too old to return home....

[theblether]

A lot of the modern chemical compounds can cause dramatic mental instabilities, some of the so called " legal highs " going around just now are quite appalling in their effects.

edit to insert link.......

This story may look comical to an extent

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159650/Benzo-Fury--10-legal-high-Katie-Wilson-19-parade-naked-Tesco.html

However what wasn't comical was the death of the 19 year old festival goer.

There have been some quite unbelievably savage, this link is the only one I can post without horrifying members

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2170486/Miami-cannibal-attack-Rudy-Eugene-NOT-high-bath-salts-linked-cannabis.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Serious serious stuff.

Edited July 11, 2012 by theblether

[smokie36]

A lot of the modern chemical compounds can cause dramatic mental instabilities, some of the so called " legal highs " going around just now are quite appalling in their effects

To be honest mate...in Thailand the highs are yabba and ice....much nastier to the brain cells for anyone. Its a ticking timebomb that in this country. Very worrying.

[theblether]

A lot of the modern chemical compounds can cause dramatic mental instabilities, some of the so called " legal highs " going around just now are quite appalling in their effects

To be honest mate...in Thailand the highs are yabba and ice....much nastier to the brain cells for anyone. Its a ticking timebomb that in this country. Very worrying.

There is no doubt that there is an epidemic of mental health problems waiting to emerge, and the tragic thing is that by the time it starts to have an effect many of these people will have recovered from addiction, or will have stopped taking drugs.

That being said, I'm a bit concerned about mental health provision for the ageing population, and pertinently, for the ageing farang population. I can see some tragic situations coming down the line.

[smokie36]

A lot of the modern chemical compounds can cause dramatic mental instabilities, some of the so called " legal highs " going around just now are quite appalling in their effects

To be honest mate...in Thailand the highs are yabba and ice....much nastier to the brain cells for anyone. Its a ticking timebomb that in this country. Very worrying.

There is no doubt that there is an epidemic of mental health problems waiting to emerge, and the tragic thing is that by the time it starts to have an effect many of these people will have recovered from addiction, or will have stopped taking drugs.

That being said, I'm a bit concerned about mental health provision for the ageing population, and pertinently, for the ageing farang population. I can see some tragic situations coming down the line.

A Thai in such a situation will likely be looked after by their family...which means there is little or no provision for a Westerner with limited funds and no family back home to look after him/her.

So yes it is very worrying indeed that situation especially given the current economic picture.

Edited July 11, 2012 by smokie36

[harrry]

In Australia help is available for a few but most have to suffer a life on the streets where the police try to ignore the problem till a major crime is committed. He is then taken to a police station locked up charged and spends time in jail if lucky and gets treatment. If they take him to hospital he is out within a couple of hours with a bag of pills he will not take. Here is much better judging on the care one of my Thai relatives has received.

[GuestHouse]

I'm not convinced drugs (and alcohol) cause mental illness, I rather take the view that their use and the consequences of their use is a result of pre-existing mental illness.

Now while I'm also of the opinion that Thailand attracts more than its fair share of expats with mental illness, I don't think that it is the main mental health issue facing Thailand's ageing expat community.

The real ticking time bomb is dementia, and with no social services, little if any old age health services available to ageing expats in Thailand, I fully expect us to read (those of use still in possession of our minds to read) more and more stories of the tragedies that dementia will lead to.

Those in solid relationships will undoubtedly be helped by their wives/girlfriends. Those living in relationships based on a monthly stipend are perhaps heading for the garden shed to be dragged out, hosed down, and presented at the bank now and again. Those living alone with no family connections - may their God, Buddha or the Crystals of Zanja help them - nobody else will.

Edited July 11, 2012 by GuestHouse