Police said a monk found the body of Thalerngsak Butrkrai, 19, hanged with a nylon rope tied to a tree branch at Wat Theptharam.
Phra Sarawaut told police he could not see the novice on his return from collecting alms, so went to look for him and found the body.
Police found no sign of a physical altercation and no injuries to the body.
The monk said Thalerngsak had ordained as a novice just two months ago.
He appeared sad after visiting his family in Chaiyaphum during the New Year holiday and often complained that his family didn’t come to visit him.