BANGKOK– In the crowded streets of Bangkok, where tuk-tuks dart through traffic and vendors serve steaming pad thai, the famous image of the “Land of Smiles” often hides a quieter struggle.
Behind the bright lights and tourist appeal, Thailand is facing a serious Mental Health crisis, felt most sharply by young adults aged 15 to 29. This age group, long seen as the country’s future, is now dealing with heavy pressure, rising anxiety, deepening depression, and growing thoughts of suicide.
The Thai Health Report 2025 captures the scale of the problem. Around 13.4 million people in Thailand, close to one in five, have experienced Mental Health issues or disorders. Young people carry a large share of this burden. Suicide, in particular, has become a stark threat, claiming more young lives and demanding urgent attention.
Behind every statistic lies a story. Earlier this year, Thailand was shaken by the suicides of two young people, one linked to heartbreak, the other to ongoing Mental Health struggles. Their deaths sparked widespread debate and brought the pain of a whole generation into focus. Anxiety, loneliness, and a sense of being lost are now common themes in young people’s lives.
Figures from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) highlight the depth of the crisis. From January 2020 to February 2025, surveys of more than 6 million people found that 9.14% were at risk of depression, which equals around 560,000 individuals.
Another 5.18% were at risk of suicide, and 7.87% were living with high levels of stress. For young adults, these numbers reflect a daily fight with problems that often go unseen, sharpened by a post-pandemic world where traditional networks of support feel weaker or out of reach.
The Rising Toll: More Young People Lost to Suicide
Suicide in Thailand has grown into a major public health emergency, with young adults taking a heavy hit. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 5,217 deaths by suicide. That is an average of 15 deaths each day, roughly one life lost every 98 minutes, at a rate of 8.02 per 100,000 people.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Thailand’s suicide mortality rate rose by 32% between 2017 and 2022. The rate dipped slightly to 7.87 per 100,000 in 2025, but the overall upward trend remains. Teenagers aged 15 to 19 report the highest rates of suicide attempts, while the 15 to 29 group has seen the sharpest rise in deaths. Academic stress, pressure to succeed, social media comparison and FOMO, domestic abuse, and rigid social expectations all fuel this pattern.
The DMH suicide prevention centre recorded 33,000 suicide attempts in 2024, an average of 93 attempts every day, with young people making up a large share. In 2023, there were 31,402 recorded attempts, and the WHO’s 2024 report shows Thai teenagers at the top of the national rankings for attempts.
Rural areas suffer even more. Provinces such as Chiang Rai report suicide rates close to double the national level, reaching 14.7 per 100,000 in 2021, with similar patterns continuing into 2025. Limited Mental Health services, long distances to clinics, and a lack of specialists all deepen the problem.
A stark gender divide also appears. Men account for around 80% of deaths by suicide, often using highly lethal means such as hanging. Women attempt suicide at higher rates using less deadly methods, such as poisoning. Cultural expectations that men must stay strong and silent, and must not show weakness, feed into this gap.
The rise in suicide is not just a matter of numbers. It reflects deep social and economic strain. The COVID‑19 pandemic intensified this trend, heightening isolation, job loss, and uncertainty, much like the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when economic collapse also led to more suicides.
Psychiatrists warn that media coverage can add further risk. Dr Kraisit Narukhatphichai of Manarom Hospital notes that dramatic reporting of suicides can prompt copycat behaviour and spread distress. Early in 2025, a series of deaths from high-rise buildings in Bangkok led to concern about imitation, prompting renewed calls for clear and careful media guidelines.
Why Young Adults Are Struggling: A Storm of Pressures
Young Thais are not weak or overly sensitive. They are growing up in a system that often feels stacked against them. The Thai Health Report 2025 names the 15 to 29 age group as the most vulnerable to Mental Health strain, with sharp rises in stress, anxiety, and depression.
At the centre of this is academic pressure. Thailand’s education system is fiercely competitive. Top exam scores and elite university places are seen as the only paths to well-paid, stable work. Failure is rarely accepted, and the pressure from families and schools can be relentless. A nationwide study in 2023 found that 28% of adolescents were experiencing depression, 32% anxiety, and 22% had thought about harming themselves. Many linked their distress to school performance and expectations about the future.
Social media adds extra weight. Constant comparison, online shaming, and cyberbullying can damage self-worth. FOMO, or fear of missing out, is now a common source of anxiety. Many young people feel they must present perfect lives online, which leaves little room for honesty about pain or struggle.
Substance use has become a common coping method. More than 52% of young people aged 15 to 25 report using alcohol, e‑cigarettes, cannabis, or kratom, often as a way to ease loneliness or emotional distress. Around 39% of those under 20 say they ignore age restrictions when getting access to these substances.
The 2022 legalisation of cannabis, framed mainly as a medical and economic move, had unexpected effects for youth. Loose control and easy access turned cannabis into a gateway product for many teenagers, at least until tighter rules came into effect in 2025.
Family life can either protect or harm young people’s Mental Health. In many Thai households, strict or authoritarian parenting styles remain common, especially in multi-generational homes. Parents may impose career choices, life paths, or relationship rules without room for open conversation.
This lack of emotional support and freedom can heighten suicide risk. UNICEF’s 2022 report suggests that one in seven adolescents aged 10 to 19 and one in fourteen children aged 5 to 9 live with Mental Health disorders, often linked to domestic violence, instability, or neglect.
The pandemic left deep marks, too. A 2025 study in the journal Frontiers, looking at university students in southern Thailand, found that 28% showed signs of depression. Long periods of isolation, online learning, and disrupted entry into adult life played a major role. Many students felt stuck between childhood and adulthood, with fewer chances to form friendships, find work, or build independence.
Stigma remains a powerful barrier. Many Thais still view Mental Health problems as weakness or a personal failing. People fear gossip, social judgment, or being labelled “crazy”, so they stay quiet instead of asking for help. Professional support is also in short supply. Thailand has only 1.57 psychologists and 1.28 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, which is around eight times lower than global averages. Most are based in Bangkok and work in private clinics where care is costly.
Young people in rural communities, including hill tribe groups, often face the toughest road. A 2024 article in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems reports that cultural barriers, language gaps, discrimination, and distance from services all block access to care. Many rural youth never see a trained Mental Health professional at all.
Deeper Roots: Money Worries and Social Change
The Mental Health crisis among young Thais has deep roots in both the economy and society. Household debt has soared, reaching 86.8% of GDP by mid‑2025, the highest in the region. Families weighed down by loans and credit card bills bring that stress home. Young people watch their parents struggle or feel pressure to contribute to income, often at the cost of their own well-being.
Thailand’s GDP is projected by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to reach 19.28 trillion baht in 2025. Yet many young people see little of that progress. Youth unemployment sits between 7 and 10%, and many of those who do find work end up in the gig economy, where pay is unstable, hours are long, and benefits are rare.
Rising costs of living only add to the strain. Tuition fees, transport, food, and housing in cities take up a large share of income. For many, starting a family feels unrealistic. Thailand’s birth rate fell to a record low of 0.98 children per woman in 2024 and is forecast to slip further to 0.89 in 2025. The Thai Health Report notes that many young adults now see children as a financial and emotional burden, choosing independence instead. That choice can bring freedom, but it can also leave some feeling disconnected or alone.
Rapid urbanisation has also reshaped Thai society. Large numbers of young people move from villages to cities for school or work. While this creates new chances, it can also break traditional community ties. With relatives and neighbours far away, loneliness grows. A Kid for Kids survey found strong links between unstable home life, frequent moves, and rising use of alcohol and drugs among young people.
Inequality runs through all of this. Young people from low-income families or migrant backgrounds often face discrimination, fewer job options, and poorer schools. Changing gender roles adds more strain. Many young women juggle careers, unpaid care work, and family expectations, with little support or recognition.
The long-term cost to the country is huge. UNICEF reports that Mental Health conditions and self-harm account for around 15% of the disease burden among 10 to 19-year-olds affected by COVID‑19 impacts, leading to billions of baht in lost productivity.
NESDC estimates that psychiatric disorders drain around 964 billion baht each year, equal to about 5% of GDP. The Mental Health of young people is not just a personal or family concern; it has broad economic consequences.
Cultural beliefs deepen the problem. In a society that values endurance, keeping quiet, and not “burdening” others, asking for help can feel shameful. Many young people turn to self-medication, social media, or risky behaviour instead of speaking openly. Dr Thananan Rojna-yoon from the DMH notes that burnout often slides into depression, especially when social media feeds fuel constant feelings of not being good enough.
The result is a generation that feels tired, unheard, and stuck between high expectations and shrinking support.
Finding a Way Forward: How Experts Suggest Thailand Can Respond
Despite the bleak picture, specialists in Thailand and abroad are clear that change is possible. Their ideas centre on prevention, better access to care, and a shift in how society views Mental Health.
Dr Jos Vandelaer, WHO Representative to Thailand, stresses the importance of social connection. He points to global data showing that between 5 and 15% of adolescents live with ongoing loneliness. Building stronger ties at home, in schools, and in communities is a key first step.
At the International Mental Health Conference in Bangkok in July 2025, held under the theme “Mental Health for a Gentle Society”, participants called for Mental Health to be woven into all types of crisis planning, from natural disasters to economic shocks. The message was simple: Mental Health support should be part of everyday systems, not a side issue.
Policy change sits at the heart of this response. The DMH has launched a National Suicide Prevention Action Plan for 2024 to 2030, which follows the WHO LIVE LIFE guidance. The plan focuses on better data tracking, early screening in schools, and restricting access to common means of suicide. For example, controlling pesticide sales and storage has cut suicide rates in some rural regions of other countries and could do the same in Thailand.
The action plan also expands the HOPE Taskforce, a multi-partner network that has already helped coordinate more than 600 interventions. The taskforce is now extending its reach across the country, working with influencers and youth groups to connect with young people in a language they understand.
UNICEF backs a “whole-of-society” approach that links government, schools, families, and communities. It calls for increased public spending on local Mental Health services and the training of more than 10,000 counsellors by 2027 under the Action Plan for Integrated Services 2023–2027. Since 2020, UNICEF’s online counselling programmes have supported more than 40,000 young people in Thailand, showing that digital tools can reach those who might never walk into a clinic.
Digital platforms are becoming an important part of the solution. In May 2025, the “Tor-Tuem-Jai” platform was launched, based on the WHO Step-by-Step app. It offers guided self-help modules for stress, low mood, and early depression, designed for young people and their families. Users who show high risk are flagged for follow-up by Mental Health professionals, which helps shorten waiting times and connects urgent cases to quicker care.
The DMH 1323 hotline is another lifeline. In the first part of 2025 alone, it received 40,635 calls, most of them from young people aged 11 to 25. The Samaritans of Thailand also run 24/7 crisis lines in both English (02-713-6791) and Thai (02-713-6793), giving people someone to talk to at any hour.
Community campaigns are key to breaking stigma. The “Every Day is Mind Day” initiative, backed by UNICEF and well-known influencers, focuses on 10 to 24-year-olds. It promotes safe spaces, peer support, and simple tools that help young people check in with their own feelings and those of their friends.
Experts such as Dr Apichaya Polrak from Prasrimahabodhi Psychiatric Hospital stress the need to support families as well as individuals. Measures such as debt relief, longer parental leave, and community activities that strengthen family bonds can bring down stress levels at home and help protect children’s Mental Health.
Schools are beginning to adapt too. The HERO programme, now being introduced in more education settings, offers risk assessment tools and training so teachers can spot warning signs and refer students to psychiatrists or counsellors more quickly.
Media guidelines issued in 2024 aim to change how suicide is reported. The goal is to avoid graphic details, romanticising death, or giving clear descriptions of methods, all of which can encourage copycat acts. Instead, journalists are urged to highlight stories of recovery, share support contacts, and treat grieving families with respect.
Economic policy also plays a part in Mental Health. NESDC argues that investment in Mental Health services and social safety nets should be seen as a way to save and even grow the economy. Reducing debt stress, widening access to fair work, and investing in youth-friendly services could recover some of the 964 billion baht lost each year to psychiatric illness.
Youth advisory boards, like those supported by UNICEF, help make sure that policies reflect real experiences. Young people, including those from marginalised communities, can share what support actually works and where systems still fail.
A Shared Responsibility: Bringing Back Thailand’s Youthful Spirit
Thailand’s Mental Health crisis among young adults is not fixed or unchangeable. It is a warning and a chance for change. During National Mental Health Month in May 2025, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra summed it up clearly: “Mental health is no luxury, it is a necessity for our future.”
With a mix of smart policies, digital tools, community support, and honest conversation, Thailand can slow the rise in suicides and give young people better options than silence or self-harm. The country has already started, but the pace needs to match the scale of the crisis.
Dr Vandelaer has described loneliness as a “silent crisis” that costs both lives and money. His point is simple. If people ignore Mental Health until it shows up in tragedy, the cost will always be higher.
For Thailand, the path forward is clear. Train more Mental Health professionals. Make help easy to reach in every province, not just Bangkok. Teach children and parents that asking for help is a sign of strength, not shame. Weave Mental Health into schools, workplaces, and community life.
The famous Thai smile can still shine with honesty rather than pressure. That will only happen if the country listens to the quiet pain of its young people now, before their whispers of distress turn into something far harder to bear.
