Thai supermodel "Yui" admitted to mental institute

[Bagwan]

Fame - that imposter.

Fame and renown is a two edged sword. It can all too easily drain a person of the energy - and spit out the wreckage of a life that is left.

[cloudhopper]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

No - she was destined to be mentally ill and you were destined to be clueless.

[webfact]

Homeless Ex-Supermodel Hospitalised For Mental Illness
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- A former successful model has been admitted to hospital for mental treatment after she was found wandering around in Bangkok last week.

On 29 August, police responded to a complaint about individual causing public nuisance at a petrol station in Petchakasem Soi 50, Phasi Charoen Area. Once they arrived, they discovered Ms. Rojjana Phetkanha walking aimlessly on the street.

She acted calmly and did not cause any trouble at the time the police arrived according to police records. The police then warned Ms. Rojjana to behave.

Until the day later, police was reported about the matter again, and they arrived at the scene to find Ms. Rojjana, still in the same outfit, wandering about, looking bemused.

According to police, Ms. Rojjana kept switching from liquid inhaler and cigarettes when she talked to the police. She was also disoriented and sometimes forgot about her story.

Ms. Rojjana told police that she currently lived with her family in Ubon Ratchathani province, but ran away to Bangkok after some heated arguments sparked a few days ago. The police then took her to hospital where she is receiving treatment for her mental disorder.

It is an astonishing fall from grace for a person that had been a household name for millions of Thais. A farmer′s daughter in the impoverished region of northeastern Thailand, Ms. Rojjana rose to fame after she won the ′Elite Supermodel of Thailand′ contest in 1994.

The star later embarked on the career in modeling which took her to world’s leading fashion cities like Paris, Milan, New York and London.



However, after 8 years under the spotlight, Ms. Rojjana’s contract with a French model agency ended abruptly because she suffered from substance abuse, and failed to keep up with her schedules.

She returned to Thailand in 2002 where she took up several jobs, but she also went through several rehabs for her chronic alcoholism and drug addiction. She had been off the radar for some years - until last week.

Today, Ms. Paveena Hongsakul, Minister of Social Development and Human Security (SDHS), visited the former model in Chaopraya Hospital.

She pledged support for Ms. Rojjana, and told our correspondent that the Ministry is contacting Ms. Rojjana′s family to look after the former celebrity.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM09EQTBNalE0Tnc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-09-02

[johnnie20110]

No disrespect to this poor lady, I sincerely hope she gets treatment and can recover.

However if she wasn't famous would she have been visited by a cabinet minister who offered help if her family cannot afford to take care of her ? There are many families who are plagued by the curse of mental health problems and just have to get on with it.

Hopefully, Pavena's intervention is a jump start for helping the other millions of other Thais with mental illness who are in need of assistance, but who aren't ex-celebrities.

Unfortunately, history is not on the side of that hope.

this lady was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/a_life_in_the_day/article859907.ece

As said... millions of Thais

69.52 million Thais x 0.024 prevalence rate of bipolar disorder = 1.66 million Thais

As said... hopefully this incident can serve as a catalyst for change to help ALL those affected.

[johnnie20110]

police responded to a complaint about individual causing public nuisance at a petrol station

they discovered Ms. Rojjana Phetkanha walking aimlessly on the street.

The police then warned Ms. Rojjana to behave.

Perhaps some of the catalyst for change would include educating the police to be able identify even fundamental mental illness symptomology.

As they are often the first to contact someone in need of assistance, they need to learn that it takes more than a "verbal warning to behave" to effectively deal with bipolar disorder.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

In the Khaosod photo with the police, she still looks absolutely beautiful - a classical face. Good luck to the lady

[ExpatJ]

In the Khaosod photo with the police, she still looks absolutely beautiful - a classical face. Good luck to the lady

Are you being funny?

In any case- tragic for the individual but she did chose her own path (of drug abuse).

[ALFREDO]

Why is The Nation showing us a photo of her more than 10 years old?

The -Nation- does not want to shock us?

Seeing the up to date photo now with the police man, have to say, after 20 years -She was Elite Miss Model- she is still attractive!

"ExpatJ" Post a photo of your real GF or wife in her 40 is !

[ALFREDO]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

Sure you one of the "strong" - "alpha" ones, good for you and keep walking over the "weak"

I think a good "example" of the 'strong" are the (Thai) high up politicians, on top the fugitive!

[FlipSide]

This is so sad, I had the pleasure to shoot her and coach her for working for the video camera in her very first appearance on stage, for the Siam Supermodel event at Shangrila Hotel, where only days before she had been found serving noodles on Soi 38. She was one of the most captivating, gorgeous, fresh faces I have encountered in my career. On camera she took my breath away & I judged her as the 'hands down' best of all the contestants I shot with. I avidly watched her career take off amid the nasty bitchiness from many of the 'lighter skinned, more middle & upper class society models who were so horrible to her, jealous that a dark skinned natural North Eastern beauty could be more successful than them. I got to know her quite well till she went big time overseas, then on her first return she asked if I would exclusively shoot her story for CNN interviewed by Tom Mintier. She was a delightful girl with perhaps the biggest 'rags to riches' tale ever in Thailand. But with so little education, worldly experience & her simple down to earth Isarn Farmers trust of humanity, by the time she was swept off her feet into the big bad limelight of the supermodels world with Kate & Naomi she was taken advantage of so many times by evil <deleted> in the model industry in Europe & America, that it really messed with her head, she distrusted most men, & took to other women & coke for her solace. It was all too big, too quick for this lovely bright natural Thai girl, we should all send her some healing blessings to get well soon, and hope she can be a lesson to any young girl with dreams of being an international model that it can come with a heavy tax. Get well soon Yui, We are happy to help you be the best you can be again, naturally.

[NongKhaiKid]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

Tell that to all the brave men and women returning from war zones who gave their lives to their country and now are suffering a mental illness such as PTSD (nothing to be ashamed of) Go to them and tell them that they were weak.

During the First World War the British Army regarded shell shock as cowardice and at least 200 soldiers were executed by firing squad. It took the government until very recently to admit a serious wrong had been done and exonerated those executed. As if the trenches weren't a big enough waste of life.

[geriatrickid]

No disrespect to this poor lady, I sincerely hope she gets treatment and can recover.

However if she wasn't famous would she have been visited by a cabinet minister who offered help if her family cannot afford to take care of her ? There are many families who are plagued by the curse of mental health problems and just have to get on with it.

Another bandwagon opportunity for an official to get publicity.

The situation presents an opportunity to show that help is available, thus helping to remove the stigma of mental illness.

In Thailand, there is a public 'ownership" of celebrities, and therefore a public interest in getting her assistance or at elast showing people care.

It is difficult for some foreigners to understand. People do care, albeit in their own Thai way.

[bigbamboo]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

disagree: none of us are masters of our destiny

So true.

If you want to give God a good laugh tell him about your plans.

[greg71]

So did anyone force the 20 dollar bill up her nose with a mound of coke or to drink her vast wealth away(50 million baht )? I stand by my comments that weak minded people are just that.To those with kids with debilatating disease etc this comment wasnt intended for you.Hard drugs do indeed screw up lives .Genetics and drug dependancy are 2 different subjects in my book

[FlipSide]

in reply to Greg71, I think your comments are callous & cruel. You may know yourself, and have your opinion but you DID NOT know this girl.

Yes in this case the whole modelling industry shoved it up her nose from the moment she arrived in London, she was innocent & vulnerable. She had zero experience with life in the fast lane. And was so sweet & innocent she was bound for exploitation in that cruel world, the fact that she wasted 50 million, is so sad. because she wasn't really in control of any of it, the Hi so party crowd in London, Paris & NY, the International agents, the pimps, the wannabe's, the hangers on's etc all hit her and stripped her from all sides. (not Traffic Jam her local agency they did so much for her before during & after) Send her a prayer that she will live thru this and be able to help others that are also so vulnerable. Get well soon Yui!

[DocN]

So did anyone force the 20 dollar bill up her nose with a mound of coke or to drink her vast wealth away(50 million baht )? I stand by my comments that weak minded people are just that.To those with kids with debilatating disease etc this comment wasnt intended for you.Hard drugs do indeed screw up lives .Genetics and drug dependancy are 2 different subjects in my book

Good to know, that at least some of us are flawless and perfect and morally superior!

[seancbk]

Why is The Nation showing us a photo of her more than 10 years old?

I don't think that is actually a pic of her, the woman in the photo is definitely not model material. Very plain and boyish looking.

Yes it is her

Lots of pictures here - https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=920&q=Rojjana+%28Yui%29+Phetkanha&oq=Rojjana+%28Yui%29+Phetkanha&gs_l=img.3...4800.4800.0.8733.1.1.0.0.0.0.77.77.1.1.0....0...1ac.1.26.img..1.0.0.Sju1RQnE2tY

[sunshine51]

I truly hope she receives the help she needs so much.

Hot as Hades back in her day.....

http://www.bellazon.com/main/topic/43627-yui-rojjana-phetkanha/

[MacWalen]

disagree: none of us are masters of our destiny

Disagree: there is no destiny but what we make.

[GarryP]

Another bandwagon opportunity for an official to get publicity.

Do you know anything about Paveena? She helps underprivileged all the time, you won't see it as it is not high profile and it is the media that makes these high profile cases more public.

So a former supermodel is under privileged or is she now poor and penniless because she blew all her cash or drugs and partying ?

I'm not saying Paveena doesn't do go but I'm sure she doesn't mind the publicity either.

How did the media find out she went to hospital or in other words who told them and that would include members of her staff along with many others.

Paveena is a known publicity junky. She uses women's and children's rights for her own self aggrandizement.

[DocN]

Another bandwagon opportunity for an official to get publicity.

Do you know anything about Paveena? She helps underprivileged all the time, you won't see it as it is not high profile and it is the media that makes these high profile cases more public.

So a former supermodel is under privileged or is she now poor and penniless because she blew all her cash or drugs and partying ?

I'm not saying Paveena doesn't do go but I'm sure she doesn't mind the publicity either.

How did the media find out she went to hospital or in other words who told them and that would include members of her staff along with many others.

Paveena is a known publicity junky. She uses women's and children's rights for her own self aggrandizement.

At least she is doing something, even if it "only" making the public aware, that these things are happening.

[nosatisfaction]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

yes,and the rich get richer and the poor poorer!!!!!!!!! watch my words.

sometimes I depress myself

[btwretail]

Poor woman... Shows that beauty can take you far, but its whats inside that really matters.

[Neeranam]

disagree: none of us are masters of our destiny

Disagree: there is no destiny but what we make.

There are now two total idiots on this thread.

I met Yui on a few occasions(when she was having some problems) and she is a wonderful human being. Get well soon.

[Neeranam]

This is the first time I've heard of this person, so curiosity got hold of me and did a Google search under images for

Rojjana (Yui) Phetkanha.

For some reason, I got this pic.

I guess too much partying and drugs will do this to you:

There is funny, then not so funny. I wish you would remove that photo. To rise then fall is not really something we should find humour in. (Especially depicting her as a monkey) Could happen to anyone of us at any time, and I am sure we would be hoping for a bit of compassion as well. (And I am never this serious)

I am sorry, but I must decline your wish, unless otherwise instructed by the Admin of this site.

Nowhere did I say it was her and you can assume all you want to what you may think I implied.

Too much partying and drugs can make a monkey of oneself.

If, perchance, you take this just as personally as you do seriously, then that makes it your personal problem, not mine.

Non the less, do not mistake my expression as a lack of compassion for that I do possess.

I do not wish to belittle her downfall, but a bit of humor is needed at times like these, as long as I am not directing it towards her, as you falsely imply.

Good day to you.

Ah, a third.

One day you may fall to the disease of alcoholism/addiction or mental illness. Would like us all to laugh at you?

Have some compassion, ANYONE can suffer like Yui.

[sbk]

The unfunny and trollish photo and related post were removed as they were in seriously poor taste. Don't repost that kind of thing again

[lee b]

Any normal person could have a break down at any time.

[jackr]

We are all masters of our own destiny,the weak are weak.

I have a feeling this philosophical gem of a comment was made in the hope of generating lots of 'likes'. It seems you were unsuccessful.

It's a shame we are not at the stage where punishment could be meted out by installing people in the minds of others, even for a short time. Betting you would soil your pants if you were in hers for just 10 minutes.

[Nooky2]

I'm really trying to care, but it's not happening.

[isawasnake]

Well, I don't think things can ever be so clear cut as some of may like, but I do believe we control our fate to a large extent. The article mentions she became a famous model who traveled and partied, and this is the result. Perhaps conjecture, but if true, all things under her control. I also kind of think it is condescending to assert that disabled people are somehow destined to a certain fate. Aren't most of us all disabled in some way relative to the strongest minds and athletes in the world? Yet, the world is what we make of it. Should we just roll over, and give up to our "fate" because we aren't as athletic, or as intelligent as the next guy?