The untimely death of Channel 8 anchor Natthawut Ponglanka sparked more than just public shock in Thailand – it cast a light on the grim reality of the persistently high suicide rates across the country.
While the investigation of his November 30 death initially focused on the discovery of cyanide in his bloodstream and stomach after a night out with friends, police have now concluded that the evidence indicates the 35-year-old took his own life.
Natthawut is the latest example of a distressing trend. Currently, an average of 15 people per day commit suicide in Thailand.
According to a 2023 peer-reviewed article, Thailand recorded one of the highest suicide rates in the region in 2019, with eight suicides per 100,000 people, compared with 5.5 in Cambodia and 2.5 in the Philippines.
Official data show Thailand’s suicide rate has been rising for the past decade, with 5,126 deaths recorded in 2024. Men account for nearly 80% of suicides, with the highest rate among the 40 to 59 age group. However, the suicide rate among youngsters aged 15-24 is also climbing rapidly. Factors most frequently cited are financial stress, followed by relationship difficulties, and mental issues such as depression.
Natthawut is thought to have quarrelled with his boyfriend, a medical student, on the day he took cyanide. He also reportedly requested and received a small amount of the fatal substance from an ex-boyfriend. The two had broken up about a month prior to Natthawut’s death.
Thailand’s law on suicide
While suicide is not considered a crime in Thailand, those who help or provoke others to take their own life can be prosecuted.
Under Article 293 of the Criminal Code, anyone who aids or incites suicide by a minor (aged 16 or under) or someone unable to understand the nature of the act, or fails to intervene, faces up to five years in jail and/or a maximum fine of 10,000 baht.
Harsher penalties of up to seven years in prison and a 14,000-baht fine apply to parents or guardians who, through cruelty, torture or mistreatment, drive a child or dependent to take their own life.
Neither of these clauses applies in the case of Natthawut, who was not a minor or a dependent. However, Natthawut’s former boyfriend, 27, faces a charge of possessing cyanide, a controlled substance, without a permit. He reportedly told police that he has access to the poison because it is used to clean jewellery at the gold shop where he works. If convicted, he could be sentenced to two years in prison and/or a maximum fine of 200,000 baht. He could also face a civil lawsuit if Natthawut’s family holds him responsible for the death.
Impact goes far beyond families
Many people mistakenly believe that life insurance policies are always paid out to the beneficiary regardless of the cause of death. In reality, Article 891 of the Civil and Commercial Code sets clear exceptions. A payout is void if the insured person dies by suicide within one year of taking out the policy, or if the death is caused by the beneficiary. These rules also apply to people named in a will.
Preventable tragedies
The financial and emotional impacts of suicide can extend beyond families to communities and even entire countries, according to the World Health Organisation. However, experts say the crisis of self-harm in Thailand can be effectively combated through improved mental health care.
“Most suicides can be prevented because 90% of these deaths are related to depression,” said Dr Kraisit Narukhatphichai, a psychiatrist at Manarom Hospital, Thailand’s first private hospital specialising in mental and behavioural healthcare.
Meanwhile, the Department of Mental Health has responded to the rising suicide rate by expanding access to support and counselling for those at risk.
