A department team recently assessed the mental health of 500 teachers in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, its director-general ML Dr Somchai Chakrabhand said.

Most were anxious about attacks following the mob beating in May of Narathiwat teacher Juling Pangamoon. She remains in a coma.

And on Thursday two women teachers in Pattani were shot by a gunman. One died yesterday.

Somchai said the department was concerned about the mental well-being of teachers and would send units to the area.

He said in the meantime the department encouraged teachers to talk about their fears among themselves.

The teachers' fear has seen them adopting safety measurers such as travelling in groups, avoiding high-risk areas and not going about in the early morning or late evening.

The department will establish units staffed by mental-health professionals at 35 hospitals.

There are already 16 counsellors working in the three provinces but 70 are needed.

The department is worried about stress in children who have lost parents to violence, too.

Somchai estimates that about 3,000 children have lost one or both parents to violence. Official figures put that number at 1,000.

Arthit Khwankhom

The Nation