Unmasking the shadows: Thailand confronts soaring suicide rates
Despite its “Land of Smiles” moniker, recent data reveals Thailand is nearing the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s alarming threshold of eight suicides per 100,000 people.
The Public Health Ministry reported a suicide rate of 7.97 per 100,000 people in 2022, marking a concerning trend since 2019 when the rate was 6.64.
The surge in suicides since 2020 coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic, with many factors such as societal pressures, economic challenges and the impact of the pandemic contributing to this upward trajectory.
A similar spike in suicide rates was seen in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian economic crisis.
Statistics, meanwhile, indicate that men face a higher risk, with suicide rates hitting 12.27 per 100,000 persons compared to 2.68 for women.
An analysis of suicide attempts highlights adolescents and school-age children being the most vulnerable, followed by working-age people.
According to experts, some of the main causes are mental health conditions, notably depression exacerbated by the negative influence of social media such as derogatory comments and cyberbullying.
Dr Kraisit Narukhatphichai, psychiatrist and managing director of Manarom Hospital, noted that frequent media coverage of suicides has contributed to greater public awareness of depression as a medical condition.
Meanwhile, WHO has reported that Thailand sees an average of more than 5,000 suicides per year or approximately 13 persons per day.
Suicide ranks among the top 10 causes of death globally and the third leading cause of death among people aged between 15 and 35.
Projections indicate a continuous increase, with over 1 million successful suicides globally every year, translating to 114 persons per hour or two people per minute choosing to end their lives.
