Mental health issues escalating in Thailand
The Thai Health Report 2025, released on Monday, sheds light on the mental health trends and risk factors affecting different age groups in Thailand. Compiled by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research, the report presents 10 key indicators that reflect mental health trends.
Among the age groups discussed, the youth aged 15-29 years stand out for their notable rise in suicide rates and high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Key risk factors for this age group include academic pressure, social media influence such as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), family violence, and intense societal expectations.
Children and adolescents under 20 years old also face elevated rates of stress, risk of depression, and suicide. The report suggests that societal pressures and possibly violence linked to drug use could be contributing factors.
Pre-elderly adults aged 45-59 report the lowest levels of happiness, reflecting emotional vulnerability during transitional life challenges. However, the report does not provide any information about the potential causes of the low happiness levels among this group.
The report also highlights a widespread mental health crisis across the general population, with over 13.4 million Thais having experienced mental health or psychiatric disorders. About 8% suffer high stress, nearly 10% risk depression, and over 5% have suicide risk.
The report also addresses social and systemic risk factors that exacerbate mental health challenges, such as high suicide rates, daily incidents of violence tied to drug use, and persisting stigma around mental health.
The report features an exploration of the country's low birth rate, attributed to economic and social changes. It also discusses incentives adopted in other countries, which have failed to raise the birth rate despite being implemented.
The Thai Health Report 2025 identifies 10 major health issues for 2025, including the social and health impacts of the proposed alcohol law amendments, dangers from e-cigarettes, confusion surrounding medical cannabis policy, and concerns over the possible legalisation of casinos.
However, the report does not provide specific details about the other three sections of the report. It also does not disclose any findings about mental health among other age groups besides the pre-senior group and the 15-29 age group. Furthermore, the report does not provide any information about the potential causes of the mental health problems reported by people aged 15-29.
In conclusion, the Thai Health Report 2025 underscores the compounding effects of socio-economic pressures, stigma, violence, and societal expectations that differently impact age groups, with urgent calls for mental health literacy, targeted support, and policy action in Thailand.
Mental health issues, particularly among young Thais aged 15-29, are escalating due to factors such as academic pressure, social media influences, family violence, and intense societal expectations. The general population also faces a mental health crisis, with high numbers of people suffering from stress, depression, and suicidal tendencies. Despite the report pointing out these issues, it does not delve into the specific causes of mental health problems in the 15-29 age group or provide information about mental health among other age groups.
