High suicide rate of Thai police officers: Hotline 1599 launched to quell problem

[catweazle]

Yeah, it's very stressful when all of a sudden (after decades of money extortion, gambling, corruption, drug dealing, gun pushing) the future promises hard work without the possibilty of illegal sources of income... Can see the stampede of police ex Mia Nois running away from their big spenders who eventually ran dry, what most likely is the reason behind a larger percentage of said suicides. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose...

Edited October 7, 2014 by catweazle

[Phra Ek]

Just a thought - but could it be that any honest policemen who don't follow the flock end up "committing suicide"?

I bet you need to be careful to not upset the wrong people in that profession?

[bigjules007]

Sometimes I think these stories are fabricated and posted to detract from other more important topics. Just a thought.

[razer]

I think in Thailand, the line between homicide and suicde is very thin and a bit blurred.

[joebrown]

Ummm.....................what is the rate of suicide?

Compared to other police forces around the world?

Compared to the general population of Thailand?

Or is there some other "hidden agenda" here?

Just asking

Didn't you know, it's time to show sympathy for the police, instead of insulting them by questioning their investigation techniques on Koh Tao.

[jacky54]

How many of these crooks killed themselves last year, and how higher was it than in the general population? Names of any Police who killed themselves?

Edited October 7, 2014 by jacky54

[bangon04]

Predictable lack of sympathy for the Royal Thai Police. Maybe if they published the suicide statistics and some analysis of the suicide motives etc, then we might have more insight. Maybe even more compassion.. but probably we will still see this press release as the crock of ***t it appears to be.

[lvr181]

Ummm.....................what is the rate of suicide?

Compared to other police forces around the world?

Compared to the general population of Thailand?

Or is there some other "hidden agenda" here?

Just asking

Didn't you know, it's time to show sympathy for the police, instead of insulting them by questioning their investigation techniques on Koh Tao.

Oooops - I must have overlooked the "investigation techniques". Silly me, will give myself an uppercut!

[The Deerhunter]

Overwork?

[Noi657]

My sympathy tablets ran out in the middle of September!

[Richardbhh]

What is the rate? High compared to what? Civilians? Did I miss the statistics? Or is this just more made up BS?

[Richardbhh]

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/profiles/Thailand/Crime

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/422390/a-deadly-police-trend

Seems 29 of an estimated(by Wiki!) 110,000 cops commit suicide every year compared to a national average for men and women of 7.8 per 100,000. So, it does seem high. Of course, how many of these 'suicides' are genuine is always a matter of fierce debate. Shot himself 5 times in the head etc.

Interesting to note 365 crimes a year are reported as being committed by Thai Policemen. Looks like they must pick one at random each day of the year. Maybe it's like a lottery.

[Poppy Dave]

Has anyone considered it may be the 'honest' cops who are self-harming due to reputations they're getting from the dishonest cops?

I realise that the RTP have got an atrocious reputation but they're not all the same.

During my time in the police (30+ years), there were one or two incidents were the actions of some officers was questioned (this was in a force that had a good reputation). This resulted in every 'cockroach', and in some instances normally law abiding citizens, you had dealings with throwing it in your face, accusing you of being inept, bent, a liar, corrupt etc. All this whilst you're out there, at all hours and in all weathers trying to protect these same people, who most of the time have NO IDEA what you are called on to do and what you have seen (sometime literally minute beforehand).

If the RTP is anything like most other Police Services, they're only just catching up with the idea of Post Traumatic Stress etc. In the not too distant past you were expected to 'Be a Man', 'Suck it up and get on with it'. Due to this 'macho-bullsh1t' outlook, many coppers didn't even tell their wives and families about some of the sights they'd seen and just 'Sucked it up and got on with the job'.

I've been to the funerals of too many GOOD coppers who had no-one to turn to.

Please, don't criticize these officers. You've never been in their boots, otherwise you wouldn't post some of the things you have. WE, and that includes me, have got no clue as to what caused them to do what they did. Whatever it was, they couldn't see any other way. Remember, the vast majority of them would have left behind wives and children................ what did they go through afterwards.

I'm not trying to make excuses, and I'm not trying to be a 'killjoy', as I know that the general pastime of TVF members is to take the p1ss out of everything that happens in Thailand, apart from (quite rightly) any tragedies. There surely can't be a bigger tragedy than someone, anyone feeling the need to take their own life.

Have a nice day.

[Woodsie888]

• High suicide rate of Thai police officers: Hotline 1599 launched to quell problem

I'm still trying to figure out which part of the headline is the good news.

Probably the first sentence, I should think.

[Woodsie888]

Has anyone considered it may be the 'honest' cops who are self-harming due to reputations they're getting from the dishonest cops?

I realise that the RTP have got an atrocious reputation but they're not all the same.

During my time in the police (30+ years), there were one or two incidents were the actions of some officers was questioned (this was in a force that had a good reputation). This resulted in every 'cockroach', and in some instances normally law abiding citizens, you had dealings with throwing it in your face, accusing you of being inept, bent, a liar, corrupt etc. All this whilst you're out there, at all hours and in all weathers trying to protect these same people, who most of the time have NO IDEA what you are called on to do and what you have seen (sometime literally minute beforehand).

If the RTP is anything like most other Police Services, they're only just catching up with the idea of Post Traumatic Stress etc. In the not too distant past you were expected to 'Be a Man', 'Suck it up and get on with it'. Due to this 'macho-bullsh1t' outlook, many coppers didn't even tell their wives and families about some of the sights they'd seen and just 'Sucked it up and got on with the job'.

I've been to the funerals of too many GOOD coppers who had no-one to turn to.

Please, don't criticize these officers. You've never been in their boots, otherwise you wouldn't post some of the things you have. WE, and that includes me, have got no clue as to what caused them to do what they did. Whatever it was, they couldn't see any other way. Remember, the vast majority of them would have left behind wives and children................ what did they go through afterwards.

I'm not trying to make excuses, and I'm not trying to be a 'killjoy', as I know that the general pastime of TVF members is to take the p1ss out of everything that happens in Thailand, apart from (quite rightly) any tragedies. There surely can't be a bigger tragedy than someone, anyone feeling the need to take their own life.

Have a nice day.

Fair enough comments which I respect.

Somehow, the RTP don't seem to have respect from many people from what I can see.

[mrtoad]

Suicide, The BIBs favourite word to solve any unexpected death.

[testosterone]

perhaps this club is a magnet for the mentally unstable...

[Elmer Gantry]

How many of these crooks killed themselves last year, and how higher was it than in the general population? Names of any Police who killed themselves?

Not enough.

[Elmer Gantry]

Has anyone considered it may be the 'honest' cops who are self-harming due to reputations they're getting from the dishonest cops?

I realise that the RTP have got an atrocious reputation but they're not all the same.

During my time in the police (30+ years), there were one or two incidents were the actions of some officers was questioned (this was in a force that had a good reputation). This resulted in every 'cockroach', and in some instances normally law abiding citizens, you had dealings with throwing it in your face, accusing you of being inept, bent, a liar, corrupt etc. All this whilst you're out there, at all hours and in all weathers trying to protect these same people, who most of the time have NO IDEA what you are called on to do and what you have seen (sometime literally minute beforehand).

If the RTP is anything like most other Police Services, they're only just catching up with the idea of Post Traumatic Stress etc. In the not too distant past you were expected to 'Be a Man', 'Suck it up and get on with it'. Due to this 'macho-bullsh1t' outlook, many coppers didn't even tell their wives and families about some of the sights they'd seen and just 'Sucked it up and got on with the job'.

I've been to the funerals of too many GOOD coppers who had no-one to turn to.

Please, don't criticize these officers. You've never been in their boots, otherwise you wouldn't post some of the things you have. WE, and that includes me, have got no clue as to what caused them to do what they did. Whatever it was, they couldn't see any other way. Remember, the vast majority of them would have left behind wives and children................ what did they go through afterwards.

I'm not trying to make excuses, and I'm not trying to be a 'killjoy', as I know that the general pastime of TVF members is to take the p1ss out of everything that happens in Thailand, apart from (quite rightly) any tragedies. There surely can't be a bigger tragedy than someone, anyone feeling the need to take their own life.

Have a nice day.

Cheques in the post

[jimbeam1]

Hmmmm. Not much sympathy here then.

Why does that not surprise me.

More like a case of what goes around, comes around.

jb1

[WhamBam]

Be nice to a policeman.

Give him a bonus when he takes a bribe. Smile too to show your gratitude.

That might help them.

[Basil B]

Just hope they dial the right number, hate to think what many people will tell them to do...

[Jim walker]

Yes they might have some financial stress especially the ones who relied on tourists for their tea money, and people without any morals or principles I don’t think guilt counselling will work just have to let them get on with it.

[EyesWideOpen]

Yes they might have some financial stress especially the ones who relied on tourists for their tea money, and people without any morals or principles I don’t think guilt counselling will work just have to let them get on with it.

Good point . With the tourism slowdown, there must be a lot of financial pressure when trying to pay back the money they borrowed to pay for their position... Hey maybe if police positions were based upon merit instead of being bought, then the department could hire more mentally stable policemen....

The hatred the average Thai has towards the Thai police is astonishing, so this

story will elicit little sympathy from them. :-)

[Friendly Stranger]

I think this goes with the territory as a story came out last week about a number of police in Toronto that have committed suicide. Many soldiers also meet their end this way as they've said more Canadian soldiers have committed suicide than killed in Afghanistan. Sorry no link.

[lausie]

"...Examining the body – identified as that of a 32-year-old Russian from the Siberian city of Yakutsk – Pol Lt Col Teerasak Boonsang and forensics officers found the victim had deep gashes on both arms and seven stab wounds in the chest.

Police concluded that he committed suicide."

Well, stopping this kind of nonsense might reduce the numbers!

[Strangebrew]

What a number for suicide? Well I guess only in Thailand Just to solve this issue line them up and shoot the lot of them then no more suicides among police, case solved. God I'm starting to think like a Thai. But the question is Who cares?

[PaullyW]

Good timing to try to get sympathy from the public for the Kao Toh case and the likely corrupt police mishandling of it.

[poweratradio]

Better training and a substantial increase in wages probably wouldn't go astray.

Any one caught committing suicide will be hanged and the cost of the rope will be deducted from their pay.Gun and Uniforms to be returned first.

[biplanebluey]

A friend of mine has to do 24 hr shifts. He does one day on, two days off. That can't be good for mental health.

HaHa----- One day on and two days off======== Man that's stressfull !!!!!!!!!