May 27, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – 1.9 million Thai people suffered from depression, but only 4 percent of them accessed the treatment, according to the mental health department.
Dr. Vachira Pengchan, deputy director general of the department, said that the illness was mostly found among working people, elders as well as teenagers.
Depression symptom relates to suicide. About 30 percent of people who successfully committed suicide developed the symptom.
Nevertheless, only 4 percent of depression patients got the treatment. In some cases, patients or people around them did not know the problem. In other cases, sickness was known, but might not be accepted by relating parties.
Yesterday, a female student at Burapha University reportedly jumped to death even though the university is going to open soon. It’s really shocking news.
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities, according to wikipedia website.
Parents and relatives were urged to talk to depression patients, so that they could speak out their problems.
It is suggested that patients should not be left alone.
Advices regarding mental health problems can be given at the hotline 1323 or 1667.
