[ireleda]

Yes, Bucky, From what I hear that dude is a HiSo and if your family got money then what ever you do in Thailand is cool, the more money changes hands the cooler you get.

But they do have shrinks here too, I know that the govt hospital has a psycho dept. But I don't know what people think of them or if they even believe that a relative is lunatic or not, Maybe just think he is a little weird is all.

[Gcromqgb]

Hello, I need help getting information on Thailands view on Mental Health, etc...How do they see certain mental health ailments....things like that. Can anyone help. ? thank you

Welcome to the forums, alexaviktoria. I think traditional families still hold onto the belief that mental afflictions have supernatural causes. If a person is suffering from a mental condition, the family would probably bring him/her to a spirit doctor or monk rather than a psychiatrist.

[johnsonjunior]

Back here in usa to work for $$ for my return, I "stressed out" to the point of seeking councling. I told my Thai wife I was going to see a "mind doctor" and she didn't have a clue why "OH mind broke?" she asked. I tryed to explain,just someone to talk to...to her reply "I wife, talk about to me"
I stopped going, he couldn't understand my disstress of living "here" ( the land of milk and honey) but wanting to be in a third world country with a asian wife I think his mind broke
I don't think the Thai's like to let outsiders know what's going on behind those smiles.
deesurin

[ireleda]

Nope, I didn't come here to work, I came here to retire in a cheaper and warmer place that I had been living.
In my estimation, anyone that comes here to work belongs in a lunatic farm, what with the lowering of pay scales to foreign workers in the last years, I would not live and work in a foreign country for less money or the same as I could make at home, I worked foreigh a lot and always made 2 to 3 times what was possible on a 40 hr work week at home, altho we never did work 40 away from home but usually at least 84.

IMHO

[timmybrown]

I guess the mental health of most Thai people is in good shape, due to their mentality of “sabai sabai”. Most that surround me don’t stress and take things pretty easily as they come by even when situations explode in their faces. Worry not now when there is nothing immediate to worry, just worry later. Worry not now when the things are not yours. Worry not now as long as I have money for my beer.

Not all is as it seens. Most of the times its just apperance we see just like the smiles. Reminds me of the commercial, "Jon! Kliat! Kin Lao!" (Proverty! Stress! Drink alcohol!) I guess you're right too in some way. The stress steps in only when they cannot afford the basic "necessaties", etc, whiskey. But before that its "sabai sabai" and "chill chill!"

However, the mental health of the minority bosses are in real bad shape, stress levels are always on the high side, affecting not only their personal health but also the health of family relationships. Boss manages the group of “sabais sabais” and all the future worry are left to him.

Thats why we need our spas and resorts and nice restuarants during the weekends.

Then what about we foreigners, how is our mental health? I can share only what I am. I am stress, very stress, my mental health is not very good. My stress is high. I feel exploited. Since we can do everything, then leave everything to us. The farang in the eyes of Thais can solve everything. When situations explode, I panic like a spider while the rest watches casually. At times, “I seng mak mak”. I want to go into “sabai sabai” mode but inherently I cannot. What about the rest of you, are you exploited too or am I just being a buffalo to be exploited?

Honestly? I'm wishing for another coup so I can blame it all on it during my next meeting. *evil grin*

[Vemnagelignc]

Hello, I need help getting information on Thailands view on Mental Health, etc...How do they see certain mental health ailments....things like that. Can anyone help. ? thank you

[ireleda]

I don't think that they have any views at all.
They think that all Thai are all right and all normal..
And all foreigners are nuts.

[Gcromqgb]

I guess the mental health of most Thai people is in good shape, due to their mentality of “sabai sabai”. Most that surround me don’t stress and take things pretty easily as they come by even when situations explode in their faces. Worry not now when there is nothing immediate to worry, just worry later. Worry not now when the things are not yours. Worry not now as long as I have money for my beer.

I think the locals generally bottle up their feelings and frustrations. They learnt this since young. To display any negative feelings eg. anger, sadness, frustration will put a person in a bad light i.e. he is not in control. This is also in line with the Buddhist teaching of 'the middle path'.

It is common for them to avoid bringing up a matter that may disrupt the harmony of the workplace/family. Eg. a colleague stealing office supplies, the father has a mia noi (mistress).

Outwardly everything seems to be fine but beneath the smile, tension is building up. And if it builds up, it could lead to a potential disaster.

[ireleda]

Do you now have your wife with you in the US?

And how many years have you lived in this 3rd world country all together or just how long without leaving??

[QxmFwtlam]

I guess the mental health of most Thai people is in good shape, due to their mentality of “sabai sabai”. Most that surround me don’t stress and take things pretty easily as they come by even when situations explode in their faces. Worry not now when there is nothing immediate to worry, just worry later. Worry not now when the things are not yours. Worry not now as long as I have money for my beer.

However, the mental health of the minority bosses are in real bad shape, stress levels are always on the high side, affecting not only their personal health but also the health of family relationships. Boss manages the group of “sabais sabais” and all the future worry are left to him.

Then what about we foreigners, how is our mental health? I can share only what I am. I am stress, very stress, my mental health is not very good. My stress is high. I feel exploited. Since we can do everything, then leave everything to us. The farang in the eyes of Thais can solve everything. When situations explode, I panic like a spider while the rest watches casually. At times, “I seng mak mak”. I want to go into “sabai sabai” mode but inherently I cannot. What about the rest of you, are you exploited too or am I just being a buffalo to be exploited?

[ireleda]

I don't think that they have any loonie bins in Thailand, I have never heard of any.

We do have a couple of folks around here who have a few jars been shook off the shelf, one is an older woman who when younger used to take off her cloths and walk around the village, now she just walks around all day with her cloths on, thank heaven, she ain't no fox by a far site.
And another nut that runs up and down the side of the hyway with a bamboo that he thinks is a lance, I guess he is on a horse and he jousts with trucks and bus's, but he ain't nuts enough to stand in front of em and runs off the road before they get to him.

Then there is the one that is kinda violent I guess cause they keep him on a chain in their yard so he is where they want him to be.

[timmybrown]

Nope, I didn't come here to work, I came here to retire in a cheaper and warmer place that I had been living.
In my estimation, anyone that comes here to work belongs in a lunatic farm, what with the lowering of pay scales to foreign workers in the last years, I would not live and work in a foreign country for less money or the same as I could make at home, I worked foreigh a lot and always made 2 to 3 times what was possible on a 40 hr work week at home, altho we never did work 40 away from home but usually at least 84.
IMHO

Not all foreigners working in Thailand are "underpaid". Although I'm not like my friend who lives in a nice condo in Thonglor with 1 living room and 2 bed rooms, with maid to take care of the house, and assigned with a car and driver, I think I'm quite comfortable here.

[KojlinMakolvin]

Yes the fact they think where nuts is why they like us.

[mr.nemo]

This is a complex issue. My perception is that most Thais don't see mental health problems as something that should be brought to discuss with their regular medical doctor, and probably many doctors wouldn't know what to do anyway. This leaves people with light to moderate problems with mental health without a good support system at all, which is really too bad. There are doctors now who understand the importance of these issues, so if you know someone with a particular problem I hope you search that kind of health profesional out. Things are changing with regards to mental health in Thailand, but perhaps rather slowly.

[timmybrown]

If you're asking if there're many mental people in Thailand? My answer is YES! Some asshole scratched my car again on the side with a key or something. This is the second time it occured within 3 or 4 months. @#%%^!!!!

The other case to mention of cos is the self admitted "mental" patient, Muu-ham. He was arrested for flying into rage after getting into a car accident with a bus and then using his mercedes, he rammed into a group of people at the bus stop killing one. His whole family admitted he is "mental" after that. On top of that, he had a group of "(mental) fans" who supported him after the "accident". Last week, he was involved in another accident with a bus again. How he was allowed to continue driving? No one knows, but I guess someone's mind is obviously not very sound too to allow him to continue driving.

In conclusion? Oh, I'm just very pissed with my car being scratched again. But $%%@% Yes! There're many mentally unsound people in Thailand!

[ireleda]

No, Bucky, I was referring to Americans that scratch to make a living TEFL or some such wage while taking the guff that Ben was taking,, not really worth it to me.
I have a cousin whose wife was a "Home Ec" teacher in high school that retired a few years back, and her gross was over 60K a year for teaching.

[Gcromqgb]

Perhaps asians are still very much bothered by the labels that comes along with mental suffering. Terms like 'nuts', 'crazy' and 'insane' do not help dispel the notion that most mental illnesses can be treated and they do improve over time.

It is a shameful thing to acknowledge that a friend or someone in the family is "crazy". It should not be the case. Would we be ashamed if we are suffering from flu or diabetes? Mental illness is a disease just like other diseases.

Society needs to be educated on the facts and myths about mental illnesses. The media has an important part to play in educating the public. Unfortunately, they tend to sensationalise the subject rather than demystifying it.