Photo: World Health Organisation/Giles Clarke
Workplaces in Thailand lack psychological safety nets for employees facing stress, depression and other mental health issues, according to campaigners marking World Mental Health Day 2024.
The World Health Organisation has chosen “Mental Health at Work” as the theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on Thursday, October 10.
The theme aims to encourage governments, employers, workers’ organisations, and other stakeholders to collaborate in creating safe, healthy working environments that serve to protect mental health.
Complaining about Thailand's situation, Amornthep Sachamuneewongse, a mental health advocate and founder of Sati App, said the country is largely unaware of psychological safety, let alone providing it.
Name, a 37-year-old office worker, shared his direct experience of how the lack of awareness around psychological safety makes workplaces unsafe for people struggling with mental-health issues.
“I used to work, but when I needed to take time off because of my deteriorating mental health, I was criticised for being lazy,” he recounted.
He said his supervisor initially showed some understanding, but eventually refused to tolerate his frequent absences from work. Conflicts with his colleagues over his inability to focus on work made the situation even worse. “So, after four years at this company, I resigned.”
His life has not collapsed entirely thanks to the understanding attitude of his family, which has supported his decision to stay home and take on odd jobs.
How do Thai employers care for staff’s mental wellbeing?
Amornthep, who has suffered mental health problems in the past, said that though some Thai employers try to address their staff’s mental needs, their efforts fail to tackle the problem at its root.
“Instead of paying attention to psychological safety, they offer their staff online consultations with therapists or psychologists,” he said.
In Amornthep’s view, employers could make improvements by ensuring supervisors act professionally and avoid imposing excessive pressure and punishing workloads on their subordinates. Workplaces should be safe in terms of both physical and mental health, he said.
“People should be able to work happily.”
Amornthep said that if companies adopted psychological safety protocols, employees would feel empowered to discuss stress with their managers, who would in turn be prepared to address the issue with C-level executives.
What working Thais endure
Dr Jennifer Chavanovanich, deputy dean of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Psychology, recently revealed research suggesting that around 42.7% of employees suffer mental health problems at some time.
Many have no choice but to struggle on despite their psychological distress.
“Over 27.5% kept on working, driven by five main reasons: They thought they were irreplaceable, they had urgent tasks to handle, they feared their performance evaluation or finances were at risk, or they simply believed they should go to work as long as they could still function,” she said.
Jennifer is a co-founder of the Thailand Institute for Mental Health Sustainability (TIMS), which has held Thai Mind Awards contest to encourage Thai employers to tend to their staff's mental wellbeing.
“Our 2023 survey showed that nearly half of employees want better healthcare welfare covering both their mental and physical needs,” she said.
She added that staff also wished their employers would provide healthcare training, allow more leave, promote good communication, and foster a healthy corporate culture.
Amornthep said some countries have measures in place to protect employees from having to answer emails, SMS or app messages after work hours, except in emergencies.
“They can just ignore their managers,” he said. “But in Thailand, staff feel uncomfortable not answering messages after work, fearing their jobs could be at risk.”
He said that employees who start responding to after-work messages are often expected to maintain that practice, warning that this can cause burnout.
Bangkok ranks 5th in the world in terms for overworking, with 15.10% of employees working more than 48 hours per week and seven out of 10 suffering burnout that can also trigger depression and stress.
Thailand’s mental health situation
According to a recent report by the National Economic and Social Development Council, the number of people seeking mental health treatment in Thailand rose from 1.3 million in 2015 to 2.8 million in 2023.
The council said this number represents just a fraction of the true toll of psychological distress, with many preferring to suffer in silence due to the lingering social stigma around their conditions.
“The actual number may be as high as 10 million,” the report said.
The Mental Health Department, meanwhile, reports that about 850,000 people completed its self-assessments between October 1, 2023 and April 22, 2024. Of them, 15.4% registered a high level of stress, 17.2% said they risked falling into depression, and 10.6% were suicidal.
Mental-health problems affect not just adults but also young people. A survey conducted earlier this year shows significant levels of burnout and stress among youngsters. School bullying, learning-related stress, and worry about job prospects ranked among the key contributing factors.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej said stress levels were found to be highest among people in the 15-25-year age group.
“We are looking for ways to help them,” she said.
However, she admitted that the 12 public hospitals run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration employ just 30 psychiatrists and 80 psychologists for a capital with a population of around 10 million people.
The ratio of psychiatrists to the population in Thailand is 1.28 per 100,000, almost eight times lower than the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 10 per 100,000.
Support from NGOs
The shortage of mental health support drove Amornthep to launch the Sati App three years ago in partnership with the Mental Health Department.
The app employs trained volunteers who listen to individuals seeking help, offering empathy without judgement or advice in the hope that venting their feelings or frustrations will make them feel better.
Users who need further help are referred to mental healthcare professionals in the healthcare system.
Nuchgalee Klaysuwan, president of the Association for the Mentally Ill of Thailand, said the country lacks supportive networks or communities to support rehabilitation of the mentally ill.
“At present, we have the capacity to take care of just 3,000. Some get better under our care, but after they return to their families or communities, their mental health often relapses,” she said.
The association's care and support are comprehensive, including occupational training and job coaches who guide and follow up with the mentally ill who have landed a job to ensure they can earn a living and live a normal life.
