Thread: Number of young Thais with major depressive disorder increasing

Thailand’s Department of Mental Health expressed concern on Wednesday (June 12) that the number of Thai teenagers and young adults suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) is on the increase, citing the fact that youths aged from 11-25 years old accounted for 13,658 out of a total 40,635 cases calling its mental health hotline in the first half of this year.


Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrachit, the department director-general, said that MDD is an important mental health issue because it cannot be completely cured, and those who do not receive proper treatment tend to end their lives in tragedy and suicide.


Dr. Kiattiphum reported that, in 2017, 4.94 in every 100,000 Thai youths aged 20-24 had committed suicide. The number increased to 5.33 in 100,000 in 2018. This statistic is in line with data from the department’s 1323 hotline that shows a rapid increase in the number of calls from younger people.


The director-general revealed that, in 2018, the hotline took 70,534 calls in total, of which 10,298 cases were from teens aged 11-19 (14.6%) and 14,173 are calls from youths aged 20-25 (20.1%). He said that the majority of the cases were to do with stress, anxiety, depression and family problems.


“When we tried to categorize the cases, we found that the proportion of teens and youths having problems with stress, anxiety, relationships, depression, MDD and thoughts of ending their lives, is increasing.” Dr. Dr. Kiattiphum said.


He went on to explain that there are several causes of MDD, but it basically involves an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, which are chemical substances that assist different parts in the brain to communicate and regulate the mood.


Other factors contributing to depression are issues concerning the economy, finance, disappointment and the loss of loved ones. If not properly addressed, the problems will develop into stress, anxiety and, finally, MDD leading to suicide, he said.


The symptoms of MDD are feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, irritability, frustration, recklessness, sleeping disorders and suicidal thoughts, Dr. Kiattiphum explained.


He urged all concerned to help prevent the rising trend of youths with MDD by reaching out to them, listening to their stories attentively and connecting them with support mechanisms.


He also encouraged society to care for college students with depression. If they exhibit signs of uneasiness, sadness, emptiness and hopelessness, being late or skipping classes, decreases in performance or sleeping in classes, they should be taken to seek advice from adults, close friends and family, or they can call the department of mental health hotline 24 hours at 1323.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/number-...creasing-domh/

40,635 out of a popultion of 69 million (0.06% if my maths is correct). That doesn't seem high, certainly low compared to figures from the USA - 17.3 million adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2017 (7.1% of all U.S. adults) and 16.2 million adults (6.7 percent of all adults in the USA) experienced a major depressive episode in the past year (to March 2019).

Originally Posted by Neverna

40,635

that's only the number of people who called the mental health hotline in the first six months of the year.

they are probably depressed because they couldn't get the latest iPhone X at a bargain price,

maybe if they worked in the rice fields instead, they would be happy!!!

over usage of smart phones cause depression,

Originally Posted by taxexile

militant vegan hairy legged slam poet lesbo-trans mutants

......

Originally Posted by raycarey

that's only the number of people who called the mental health hotline in the first six months of the year.

Racist Ray, are you saying that Thais, who have more mobile phones per person than the USA, are too stupid to use them.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Racist Ray, are you saying that Thais, who have more mobile phones per person than the USA, are too stupid to use them.

no, shit for brains.....i'm taking the stat directly from the first sentence the OP.

Originally Posted by misskit

citing the fact that youths aged from 11-25 years old accounted for 13,658 out of a total 40,635 cases calling its mental health hotline in the first half of this year.

i'd like to post, "nice try"...but let's be honest....it really wasn't.

Originally Posted by misskit

He went on to explain that there are several causes of MDD, but it basically involves an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, which are chemical substances that assist different parts in the brain to communicate and regulate the mood.

It all boils down to heredity IMO. Myself have suffered depression well before I knew I had it. And only then did I realise my daughter has similarities. It's not just a Thai thing. Depression is a terrible thing. Don't get caught out by ignorance. Talking helps immensely.

buying a new iPhone usually help with depression,

or go on a shopping spree, problem solved

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

buying a new iPhone usually help with depression,

or go on a shopping spree, problem solved

Not often you right BF but the feel good factor does work.

what's a slam poet?

as thai culture ignores personal responsibility, maybe dont know there is such a thing, im sure they dont, as they get absorbed into the world stage, it will get a lot worse, as a race they never get past 4 yrs old.

Originally Posted by misskit

Number of young Thais with major depressive disorder increasing

Thais don't take mental sickness seriously. Out in the sticks they still believe that someone who has mental problems are possessed by bad spirits and get monks to physically beat the spirits out of that person.
In Korat there are NO child trick cyclists working in the government hospital. That's how seriously they take it.

Originally Posted by Little cat

At least bi polar, ptsd and 'toxic' relationships do not appear to have infested the country as yet

Thus maintaining your novelty value.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Thais don't take mental sickness seriously. Out in the sticks they still believe that someone who has mental problems are possessed by bad spirits and get monks to physically beat the spirits out of that person.

A very good point, and it's a shame TD's more antiquated posters cannot see further than their square inch of the rug.