A leading mental health expert said the suicide rate is climbing in Thailand especially among teenagers due largely to stress and conflict within their families.
Dr Yongyud Wongpiromsarn, an expert from the Thai Media Fund Committee, said that from the suicide statistics surveyed by the Mental Health Department in 2020, the suicide rate was found to have risen to 7.37 per 100,000 people.
Young people aged 10-19 are the most at-risk group with the highest rate of five suicides per 100,000, he said.
The Mental Health Department said it has arranged a 24-hour hotline (1323) and mental health consultation service at its offices so more people can seek help.
The department urged the public to watch for warning signs such as people isolating themselves from their social circle or displaying unusual and erratic mood swings.
It also stressed the importance of friends and family providing emotional support and seeking professional help to address the mental health issues of loved ones.