In Thailand the number of alcohol-related mental disorders is on the rise, figures show according to the Department of Mental Health’s latest survey.
The Department of Mental Health conducts the national mental health survey every five years in order to study the link between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. This year’s survey was conducted on nearly 5,000 subjects aged older than 18 years and from across Thailand.
The survey found that the prevalence of Thais with mental problems is at 1.9%, which amounts to approximately 1 million people.
The alarming discovery in the survey is the fact that the prevalence of alcohol users with mental issues is 19.6% or 10.1 million people. Compared to other countries around the world, Thailand tops the list, followed by Ukraine, the United States, South Africa and Japan.
Alcohol and mental ill-health are closely linked: Alcohol can contribute to the development of mental health problems. It can also exacerbate pre-existing mental health difficulties.