Spotlight cast on growing suicide problem

The rate of suicide among Thais has increased during the past few years, with 4,800 people ending their lives last year, according to a report by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).

In light of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day yesterday, many public health sector workers, including staff at the DMH and the National Health Security Office (NHSO), joined hands in an effort to help with suicide prevention.

World Suicide Prevention Day, or WSPD, is designated as such by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Sept 10 every year to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.

The idea for WSPD came after the WHO reported that at least one million people around the world commit suicide every year, or one person every 40 seconds.

Suicide is now in the top 10 causes of death worldwide, with men having triple the chance of succeeding in suicide compared to women.

In Thailand, suicide and mental health are still major problems, with the death toll still on an upward curve, said DMH Deputy Director-General Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat.

According to the DMH, the suicide rate was 6.3 per 100,000 population in 2018; 6.32 in 2019[ 6.64 in 2020; 7.38 in 2021 and 7.97 in 2022, the highest in the last five years.

Difficulties in relationships were cited as the prime reason for 50% of suicides. Health and mental issues were blamed for 20%–30% of the deaths, while liquor and economic problems were also listed as motives, he said.

Moreover, workplace stress also added to the toll, as people of working-age, (20–59) saw the 3,585 deaths in their group in 2021 turn into 3,650 by 2022. According to the WHO, suicide affects the lives of 5–10 million other people, as well as economic systems.

NHSO secretary-general Jadet Thammathataree suggested that people classified as suicide risks should receive regular assessments under the universal healthcare, or “gold card” scheme.

Those contemplating suicide can call the DMH’s mental health hotline at 1323.

According to DMH, the hotline received 11,769 calls from working-age people last year.