Thread: Girl takes own life after sending last goodbye to friends on Facebook

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

I don't think Thai accept the phenomenon of mental illness in the way civilised countries do but merely see it as a manifestation of some karmic imbalance or because the sufferer "think too mut" and has neglected to visit the temple.

Basically you are correct in that mental illness is seen by many as a task for the monks to sort out. I can't find the article now but there was a case where police had to investigate a temple, 10-11 year ago, where a girl was taken by her family to have the evil spirits beaten out of her. The monks beat her so bad she was hospitalised, Hence the police.

Edit:-

A final conclusion that some limited number of respondents discussed that they believed that it could be caused by ‘ghosts or spirits’ because they have done something bad. One responded posed an interesting view in that she indicated a possible difference between the beliefs of those in urban and rural areas, “Most city people believe mental illness can be caused by spirits less that rural people. I am from rural part and I was taught this and I still believe it despite having scientific knowledge—you cannot prove about spirits”

https://maytermthailand.org/2012/04/...or-counselors/