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Published on October 6, 2007

Prawate Tantipiwatana-skul, project manager of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said the department, in cooperation with the foundation, planned to use the tool kit as a guideline for schools.

The guide will comprise of techniques to make children self-aware, self-manage, adapt through learning from elders in the community, and set life goals.

"A big problem for mentally deficient children is that they don't know themselves and they don't know what they want to do," Prawate said.

The tool kit should be launched in the next six months and, Prawate said, he expected it to be an effective way of improving children's minds and also cutting down on violence.

 However, he said, he was particularly concerned about children who work in factories and urged manufacturers to set up development centres. He said this could help reduce stress and mental problems for children in factories.

"Most children are afraid to talk to their parents or seek advice from them or other people. We need to create a friendly environment for our youth, which could help develop their minds and stop them from being violent," he said.

Meanwhile, Mental Health Department chief ML Somchai Chakra-bhand said the 2005 epidemiological study on behavioural problems in children aged between six and 18 across the country found that 794,983 required psychological help. The prevalent problems were depression, nervousness, aggression and sexual problems.

According to records from the mental health hotline in 2006, the top three problems are mental disorder (20.5 per cent), family troubles (10.85 per cent) and behavioural and emotional problems (9.35 per cent).

Somchai said violence among teenagers was also getting worse and was more common among girls.

Most of the children were found to have problems dealing with their own emotions, which made them hurt or kill others or themselves.

However, he supported the idea of developing a place for young people to meet and do what they want, like race motorcycles, but it needed to be regulated for safety's sake. He said this may help them channel their energy and help reduce violence.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation