1 in 5 stressed teens are suicidal: survey
More than one-fifth of Bangkok-based teenagers with chronic stress disorder have contemplated suicide, a seminar on youth welfare was told yesterday.
The 28.4 per cent figure is double among homosexual children between 13 and 18. Of 300,000 children surveyed in a youth welfare project held jointly by the National Institute of Development Adminis-tration (NIDA) and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry over the past year, 23.3 per cent living outside Bangkok admitted to having contemplated suicide. Four per cent of respondents said they had been sexually violated, with twice as many boys facing the ordeal. The overall percentage of teenagers living in Bangkok who are suffering from chronic stress disorder is 47.8, and 38.3 for those living elsewhere. One-third of respondents admitted to playing hooky because they were bored and were encouraged to do so by friends, and 60 per cent were punished for it. Eleven per cent often smoked cigarettes and 35.5 per cent [for those living in Bangkok] drink alcohol every week compared to 18.4 per cent living outside Bangkok. One-fifth of respondents have had sex and 7.1 per cent say they are homosexual [no breakdown in sexes]. The average age for first-time sex is 14. On morality and religious practices, 30.8 per cent said they scarcely observed religious codes and 5.8 per cent had engaged in no religious practices in the past year. Wichai Roopkhamdee, dean of NIDA's Social and Environmental Development Centre, said the figures uncovered by the survey were considered as being in the near-critical stage and he urged the authorities to include youth issues as a major item at the national level. Dr Amornwitt Nakhonthap, director of Ramjitti Development Institute, said Streets for Youth projects would soon be launched in major provinces to get teenagers away from inappropriate activities and interested in recreational activities.
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