Jansen-Zelak Co., Ltd., the pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (Company) supports Thai artists on television, music and social media to increase awareness and educate Thai people about depression and suicide in Thailand. by the company It has teamed up with the Department of Mental Health to hold a panel-style seminar where content creators and artists join mental health professionals to discuss ways to reduce stigmatization of people with health issues. Mental and new ways of communicating information about mental health in a more easy-to-understand manner.
Approximately 1.5 million Thais suffer from depression each year in Thailand, and approximately 53,000 (145 people per day) attempt suicide. This results in an average of 4,000 deaths each year. Recent surveys also found that young people are particularly at risk. The Department of Mental Health reports that 8% of people under 18 are at risk of suicide.
Dr. Amporn Benjapolphithak, MD. Director-General of the Department of Mental Health and the chairman of the opening ceremony of World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 gave an opening speech that “This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day We want Thai society to be able to move forward by listening to their own voices through the campaign ‘Mind Voice. and minimizing losses.”
Dr. Nuttakorn Champathong, Director of the Kalaya Rajanagarindra Institute, said, “In the past, the suicide rate in Thailand was almost the highest in Southeast Asia. The outbreak of the covid-19 virus As a result, the suicide rate in Thailand has skyrocketed. This is partly due to the unemployment problem causing them to lack income to support and ultimately making short-thinking decisions. For this reason, we have several contact channels for monitoring vulnerable groups such as the HOPE Taskforce : Special Operations Prevention Team. suicide to keep an eye on the risk groups on social media In addition, the Department of Mental Health has provided channels to contact experts to support people with mental health problems, such as the Mental Health Hotline 1323, a chat application (KhuiKun) available on the LINE application as a mental health counseling service. preliminary among high-risk groups with mental health problems and Sati App, an application platform that allows people to reach their listeners with a more heartfelt approach via mobile phones.”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Prakan Thomyangkun, representative of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand, said, “There is still a stigma of people suffering from depression or mental health problems in our society. These people did not dare to ask for help from anyone. Therefore, having the support of those around them is important to them. We can help friends or family by observing their behavior. Whether it’s observing social media activities such as deleting or changing your profile picture to black. Notice if they are easily anxious and irritable. or even observe their sleep for trouble sleeping It is important for us to let them know that we are always ready to help and support them.”
Asst.Prof.Dr. Natthorn Pittayaratsathien President of the Mood Disorders Association of Thailand (TSAD) and Chulalongkorn Hospital said, “Depression is caused by a number of factors, so we need to change the way we study this condition to include a comprehensive view of it. by using a model Biopsychosocial (Bio-Psycho-Social) We can identify relevant biological, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to this disorder. Research suggests that genes can influence the spread of depression from one generation to the next.”
Ms. Weerawat Meekaew, Director of Government Affairs, Jansen-Sealect Co., Ltd., said, “Jansen aims to raise awareness of the challenges of people living with depression. and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which is estimated that more than 900,000 people throughout Thailand suffer from depression. We believe that if we help as many people as possible understand more about the burden of different types of depression including treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and suicidal ideation. We will all be able to take better care of ourselves and those around us.”
A large number of pages and social media groups are being created on mental health issues, showing that mental health issues are a hot topic and that there may be more people facing mental health issues than they are. think One of these pages is Page Nuan, whose owner, who is an illustrator, uses art to communicate various social issues, and ‘Causes and Effects of Depression’ is a topic that Page Nuan frequently picks up to mention. time which helps to create awareness among the new generation.
In addition, artists in the Tero Music label have also participated in a campaign for mental health care. Previously, Tero participated in activities and projects such as “Sound of Happiness”, “In The Mood For Love”, “In The Mood For Music” and “Note To My Younger Self” with the aim of using music. It is a tool to treat and promote people with mental health conditions and create an atmosphere that conveys love and concern in Thai society. Recently, Tero artists have had the opportunity to run a campaign ‘Mind Voice’ with the Department of Mental Health and the Community Care Club. The Emotional Disorders of Thailand to present an artist’s perspective on mental health issues such as depression and to encourage proactive action in suicide prevention. August 1 – September 10 aims to raise awareness before World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2022.
People who are concerned about their mental health can call the Mental Health Hotline 1323 to speak with a mental health professional. Additionally, the Chat app (KhuiKun) available on the LINE app will help connect you to the hospital, making it easy. Continue to book a doctor or make an appointment to consult a mental health professional, and the Sati app provides an easier way to connect people with listeners via mobile phones. The app aims to raise awareness about mental health. and the importance of heartfelt listening and recognition to create a more compassionate society.