Most suicides in Northern Thailand
Most suicides are committed in the North of Thailand and the suicide rate is increasing sharply in the Northeast (Isan). The northern province of Lamphun (map) leads the sad top ten, the southern province of Pattani has the lowest number of suicides despite the violence of resistance groups.
This is according to figures from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for 2013, which were released today on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day. In 2013, 3.900 people killed themselves in Thailand (6,08 per 100.000), less than in 2004 (6,87) but more than in 2009 (5,97). More than 66 percent died by hanging, followed by ingestion of herbicide, insecticide, and the bullet. Most suicides are committed by men (average 9,7); women score 2,58.
Prapas Ukranan, director of the Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital in Khon Kaen, explains the high percentage in the North from the 'closed' society from which people come. When they make mistakes, others point them out to make them feel ashamed and guilty.
The rise in the Northeast (Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et and Kalasin), he says, has to do with the rapid changes in a person's life as they move from the countryside to the big city, increasing competition, pressure and financial problems.
Most suicides are the result of unresolved issues after failure to communicate with others or family or of financial problems and chronic illnesses.
Finally, the figures per province. Lamphun 14.81, Phayao 13.15, Chanthaburi 12.97, Chiang Mai 12.24, Mae Hong Son 12.17, Lampang 11.79, Phrae 11.62, Tak 10.90, Chiang Rai 10.79 and Nan 10.67.
Chanthaburi is the only non-northern province in this list, because it is located in the East. All northern provinces come to 9,9 per 100.000 people.
In Pattani, the province with the lowest suicide rate, the rate is 1,18. According to the DMH, it is likely that the Muslim culture deters people from killing themselves.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Sept. 10, 2014)