Thai govt plans phone app to help depressed teens

[webfact]

Government plans phone app to help depressed teens

By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The government’s Mental Health Department will in September make available a mobile-phone application to help teenagers avoid or overcome depression.

The department’s director-general, Squadron Leader Boonruang Triruangworawat, said this week the “Mindfit” app would be free to download for both Andriod and iOS devices.

 

He made the announcement at a combined International Mental Health Conference and Child Mental Health and Psychiatry Conference on Depression held at a Bangkok hotel.

 

Its intent is to “engage users with easy activities to adjust their thinking, boost problem-solving skills, adjust behaviour and promote positive thinking, self-expression and life-goal adjustment”, he said. 

 

The app will assess the users’ current mental condition via a questionnaire covering the previous 2-3 weeks and then recommend a one-month programme of activities to boost their “heart power”, Dr Boonruang said.

 

The app has been designed based on a study by Ubon Ratchathani-based Prasrimahabhodi Psychiatric Hospital of 177 youths aged 15-18 around the country who had experienced depression.

 

The most common symptoms were found to be irritability, sadness and a sense of emptiness and isolation. 

 

Boys feeling depressed tended to behave recklessly, such as driving at high speed, while girls were more likely to weep or lash out, Boonruang reported. 

 

The study identified contributing factors in family issues such as domestic fights, in overly high expectations, lack of love, and low income or debt. Relationship issues such as lack of peer acceptance, arguments with friends or losing a boyfriend or girlfriend can cause depression, as can personal issues, illness, lack of self-awareness, and suppressed stress or anger.

 

Depression can also stem from studying hard with insufficient rest, from trauma such as serious illness in the family, teenage pregnancy, abortion, and being abused at home or bullied by others.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30322656

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-03

[Somtamnication]

How can the app help if the govt. depresses them?

[CelticBhoy]

What if they are depressed 'coz they don't have a mobile phone  . . . . .  

[Golden Triangle]

Well I hope it works better than the last one that they issued, could have a lot of teenage flyers from tall buildings otherwise.

 

 

Edited August 3, 2017 by Golden Triangle

[petermik]

Another gem of an idea..............

[rkidlad]

55 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

How can the app help if the govt. depresses them?

The app then reports them for defamation of the government, and they go in for attitude adjustment. If that won't work, a little involuntary euthanasia should do the trick. 

[jaltsc]

"The government’s Mental Health Department will in September make available a mobile-phone application to help teenagers avoid or overcome depression."

 

Who are these professionals coming up with such an absurd idea? First of all, most people experiencing clinical depression are unaware of their condition. So, they have no idea that they need to seek help. Secondly, this proposal ignores the culture in which they are targeting. In the Thai culture, a diagnosable mental illness in a male would be considered a weakness, and most likely a loss of face if he admits it. 

 

Perhaps, training and placing nurses in the school settings would be a first step. Then those who are exhibiting signs or reporting symptoms could be guided to real mental health professionals, instead of a phone app. Maybe a little education about mental illnesses, starting in the early years of schooling might dispel some of the ignorance about the conditions involved and make it easier for those needing help to seek it.

 

"Depression can also stem from studying hard with insufficient rest..." 

This can lead to fatigue, but in no way result in clinical depression.

Edited August 3, 2017 by jaltsc

[PatOngo]

At Last! An app the removes the government and returns happiness to the people!

[tonray]

Hey at least they recognize the issue and are trying. Give them some credit.

[Lupatria]

"All our lines are busy at this moment. If you want to listen to music while on hold please press 1 for death metal, 2 for gothic grunge, and 3 for Leonard Cohen Songs. To be ignored (happens during lunch time) press ###"

[Beats56]

How are they going to design a app when they can't get a simple program for 90 day reports to work properly?

[Get Real]

Yep, and I have heard that both Internet and to much gaming is unhealthy. Now they want already unhealthy to use more apps and phones. Are they trying to make a higher percentage of ADHD?

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, jaltsc said:

"The government’s Mental Health Department will in September make available a mobile-phone application to help teenagers avoid or overcome depression."

 

Who are these professionals coming up with such an absurd idea? First of all, most people experiencing clinical depression are unaware of their condition. So, they have no idea that they need to seek help. Secondly, this proposal ignores the culture in which they are targeting. In the Thai culture, a diagnosable mental illness in a male would be considered a weakness, and most likely a loss of face if he admits it. 

 

Perhaps, training and placing nurses in the school settings would be a first step. Then those who are exhibiting signs or reporting symptoms could be guided to real mental health professionals, instead of a phone app. Maybe a little education about mental illnesses, starting in the early years of schooling might dispel some of the ignorance about the conditions involved and make it easier for those needing help to seek it.

 

"Depression can also stem from studying hard with insufficient rest..." 

This can lead to fatigue, but in no way result in clinical depression.

No, but having to start school at the crack of dawn, spending all day there and in some cases Saturdays as well or intensive tutoring, most without any real direction or useful outcomes with poorly qualified teachers, teaching out of date information using primate methods based on rote learning, is enough to cause depression to even the most well adjusted kids. 

But never mind, put head in sand, find or use some useless boring app and all will be ok.