According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s estimate, one in eight of us is currently struggling with mental health problems. But in Thailand, only a fraction of these sufferers receive the help they need.
“Only a few million Thais have ever been treated for their mental health issues,” Mental Health Department spokesman Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh revealed recently.
While some people decline to seek help because they think they can handle their conditions alone, others are too worried about the possible stigma and negative reaction from their family and society if they get psychiatric help.
“On top of that, some are not able to get help because they can’t access the services,” Varoth said.
Too few experts
The WHO’s Mental Health Atlas 2020 reveals that Thailand has just 1.28 psychiatrists per 100,000 people – over 10 times lower than the global average of…
