Deaths highest in North, rising on the East coast
source: The Nation August 28, 2007
Some 3,612 Thais killed themselves last year and the highest suicide rates were in the North, the Mental Health Department revealed yesterday.
But the more positive news was the 2006 suicide-rate of 5.77 people for every 100,000 was close to the lowest recorded rate of 5.4 persons to every 100,000 in 1981. And the department hoped to reduce suicides even further this year.
Mental Health Department chief ML Somchai Chakra-bhand told a press conference yesterday - on the upcoming World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 - that some 30,000 Thais tried to take their own lives last year.
Of these, 3,612 people - 2,856 males and 756 females - tried again and succeeded, he said. Most victims were aged from 30-39 and acted out of depression or problems associated with money, family, society and politics, he said.
The top five provinces for suicides were Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao and Mae Hong Son, while the lowest rate was in Narathiwat in the far South.
The most common method was by hanging, followed by shooting and taking pesticide.
Somchai said the overall suicide rate last year was lower than the previous three years - 6.3 to every 100,000 in 2005, 6.9 in 2004, and 7.1 in 2003.
Thailand's suicide rate was also lower in comparison to other Asian countries such as Sri Lanka (35 to every 100,000), Japan (25.3) and South Korea at 25.2, he said, adding that world-wide about 3 per cent of people committed suicide.
Somchai's deputy Dr Apichai Mongkol said the high suicide rates in the North had actually reduced by 50 per cent from previous years, but the department was working with Chiang Mai University to find out why.
However, Apichai feared the Eastern provinces of Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat, which have seen a rise in the number of cases, would surpass other areas. He said a study would soon be conducted in the East.
"Stress alone does not lead to suicide, but the feeling of being inferior certainly does. People in the southernmost provinces were certainly stressed by the on-going violence, but they had the lowest suicide rate and a recent study found their mental health was as good as people living in other regions. This is because good mental health is not just about stress, but also about the persons' ability to adapt themselves and assist others, which is what was happening in the Deep South."
Department officials are urging people to ensure their loved ones were not too stressed by politics, money or social situations and to look for signs such as seclusion, express of a death wish, low-self esteem and respect, and obsession with insoluble problems. If such signs were noticed, they should listen to their worries and try to help them solve the problems without verbally attacking them. Or they should take them to meet a psychologist.
Samaritans Association head Thira Chakanchanar-odom said his group received 3,706 calls from January to June, most from females aged 31 to 45. He said 1.3 per cent thought of, or planned, suicide, while 5.5 per cent had attempted suicide, and 0.2 per cent called while taking their own lives.
Most were stressed or worried, or troubled by relationship issues, loneliness, pressure, family or health woes.
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