The alarming increase in suicide rates in Thailand has raised considerable concern, with figures soaring steadily over the past half-decade to reach a tragic peak of 4,800 deaths in the previous year, according to the country’s Department of Mental Health (DMH). In the face of these distressing statistics, the globe marked the arrival of World Suicide Prevention Day, a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at reducing these unsettling numbers by uniting global forces. Rising magnificently to this challenge, mental health professionals from across Thailand’s public health sector, including committed teams from the DMH and National Health Security Office (NHSO), pooled their efforts to actively contribute to this vital campaign.
World Suicide Prevention Day was conceived in the wake of a deeply troubling WHO report indicating that a minimum of one million lives is claimed annually by suicide globally. This alarming fact equates to one life being tragically extinguished every 40 seconds. As a result, suicide has earned an unwanted place in the top 10 causes of worldwide death, with men being shown to be three times more likely to be successful in their suicide attempts than women.
In Thailand, such figures radically underline the ongoing struggle with suicide and related mental health issues. According to the DMH’s Deputy Director-General, Sirisak Thitidilokrat, tragedies related to suicides are continuously on the rise. DMH records reveal an escalating suicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 population in 2018 to a peak of 7.97 in 2021, its highest rate in five years, as divulged by the Bangkok Post.
Breaking down the roots of this social issue, “Half of the suicides are triggered by relationship struggles. Factors such as health, mental issues, economic hardships, and substance dependency contribute to 20% to 30% of these appalling death statistics,” Thitidilokrat further elaborated. He also pinpointed on workplace stress as another substantial factor contributing to the rise in suicides, especially among the working-age population (ages 20 to 59 years), who have seen their numbers shockingly spike from 3,585 in 2021 to 3,650 last year.
The WHO cautions that suicide’s grim reach extends far beyond the tragic individual loss, impacting an estimated 5 to 10 million others and causing significant disruptions to broader economic systems. To tackle this, Jadet Thammathataree, the NHSO secretary-general, suggests integrating regular assessments in the universal healthcare ‘gold card’ scheme for those deemed at risk of suicide.
For those grappling with mental distress, the DMH offers a mental health hotline at 1323, which took nearly 12,000 urgent calls last year from working-age individuals. Reach out if you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, at the Samaritans of Thailand’s 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (for English speakers), 02 713 6793 (in Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (in Thai). Don’t stigmatize or underestimate mental pain; instead, take action and seek help. Remember, loneliness, stress, or depression can befall anyone. Reach out to your loved ones and navigate through this challenging time together.
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