Thai initiative Kru Care Jai launched to tackle teen mental health issues

An initiative to address the increasing mental health issues among Thai adolescents has been launched, named Kru Care Jai. This programme, initiated by the Public Health Ministry, seeks to provide training to teachers to enhance their abilities in curbing mental health problems in students. The launch comes as data suggests that Thai youth are increasingly vulnerable to mental illness, with self-harm being a conceivable risk for 17% of this demographic.

The Public Health Minister, Dr. Cholnan, disclosed that Thai adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 are facing escalating mental health threats. This is predominantly due to harmful elements such as behavioural, emotional, and social challenges, which can lead to enduring psychiatric issues.

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) data for 2022 substantiates this claim. It reveals that roughly one in…