Capacity building of Thai fortunetellers to engage in mental health counseling
Keywords:
fortune-telling, fortunetellers, mental health, mental health counselingAbstract
Objective: To develop the potential of fortunetellers in Thailand to engage in mental health counseling.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out from September to October 2019 among 40 fortunetellers randomly placed into an experimental group (n = 20) receiving mental health counseling training and a control group (n = 20) not receiving training. In-depth interviews were conducted with both groups and with a sample groups of 86 clients equally divided between the two groups of fortunetellers. Knowledge and problem scores before and after the services were assessed in both groups of fortunetellers and both groups of clients, respectively. The data were analyzed by using a content analysis, independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: The qualitative analysis shows that fortunetellers in the experimental group reported improvement in the quality of their services after receiving training in mental health counseling. The clients’s problem scores after receiving fortune-telling service in both groups were significantly lower than before the services, even though the changes in scores between the two groups were not significantly different.
Conclusion: Developing the potential of fortunetellers to engage in mental health counseling could alleviate the burden of mental health problems on health professionals. A collaborative relationship between health professionals and fortunetellers would benefit service recipients.
Downloads
References
Tritipthumrongchok A. Fortune telling as mental health support. Eubios J Asian Int Bioeth. 2015:25(5);188-203.
Tuicomepee A, Romano JL, Pokaeo S. Counseling in Thailand: development from a Buddhist perspective. J Couns Dev. 2012;90(3):357-61. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.2012.00044.x.
Pholphirul P. Why do we go and pay to fortunetellers? economic implications of Thai people behavior. Actual Problems in Economics. 2016;1(175):236-46.
Burnard P, Naiyapatana W, Lloyd G. Views of mental illness and mental health care in Thailand: a report of an ethnographic study. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2006;13(6):742-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2006.01028.x.
Kubasova K. Fortune-tellers as counsellors in Bangkok: exploratory research. International Journal of Mental Health. 2021 Aug. doi:10.1080/00207411.2021.1968570.
World Health Organization. Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017 [cited 2020 Oct 10]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf;
Department of Mental Health. The national data of suicide rates of Thailand. Nonthaburi: Department of Mental Health; 2016 [cited 2021 Feb 1]. Available from: https://www.dmh.go.th/report/suicide/english/.
Sinngern S, Patanon K, Suttha S, Worawanm C, Phunnapa K, Dussadee U, et al. The Thai national mental health survey 2013: prevalence of mental disorders in megacities: Bangkok. Journal of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand. 2016;61(1):75-88.
Smith P. Why people are turning to astrology and tarot cards for their mental health. New York: The Huffington Post; 2019 Dec 17 [cited 2021 Feb 1]. Available from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/astrology-tarot-cards-mental-health_l_5df7b210e4b03aed50f25c30
Suwankhong D, Liamputtong P, Rumbold B. Existing roles of traditional healers (mor baan) in southern Thailand. J Community Health. 2011;36(3):438-45. doi:10.1007/s10900-011-9360-z.
Mongkol A, Vongpiromsan Y, Tangseree T, Huttapanom W, Romsai P, Chutha W. The development and testing of Thai mental health indicator version 2007. Journal of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand. 2009;54(3):299-316.
Silpakit O. Srithanya stress scale. Journal of Mental Health of Thailand. 2008;16(3):177-85.
Arunpongpaisal S, Kongsuk T, Maneeton N, Maneeton B, Wannasawek K, Leejongpermpoon J, et al. Development and validity of two-question- screening test for depressive disorders in Thai I-san community. Journal of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand. 2006;52(2):138-48.
Health Service Support Division, Ministry of Health. The Specializing Village Health Volunteer Training Program Curriculum of Year 2012. Nonthaburi: N Design Publishing; 2012.
Working group to prepare depression management guidelines for general practitioners in primary and secondary care centers, Department of Mental Health. Clinical practice guideline of major depressive disorder for general practitioner: CPG-MDD-GP. Ubon Ratchathani: Prasrimahabhodi psychiatric hospital; 2010 [cited 2021 Feb 1]. Available from: http://www.thaidepression.com/www/news54/CPG-MDD-GP.pdf
Wei C. In Taiwan, fortunetellers are the preferred form of therapists. Brooklyn: Vice Media Group; 2020 Oct 20 [cited 2021 Jan 27]. Available from: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3an8jb/taiwan-fortunetellers-therapists-mental-health
Brooksbank T. My experience with a Korean fortuneteller. CA: USC Annenberg Media; 2018 Apr 25 [cited 2021 Jan 27]. Available from: http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2018/04/25/my-experience-with-a-korean-fortune-teller/.
Thara R, Padmavati R. Community mental health care in South Asia. World Psychiatry. 2013;12(2):176-7. doi:10.1002/wps.20042.
Xiao S, Khan M, Yoon-Young N, Phillips MR, Thomkangkoon P, Pirkis, J, et al. Improving treatment in Asia of depression and other disorders that convey suicide risk. In: Hendin H, Philips MR, Vijayakumar L, Pirkis J, Wang H, Yip P, et al., editors. Suicide and suicide prevention in Asia. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008.
Aggarwal P, Sriram S. Exploring well-being among mental health professionals in India. Psychol Stud. 2018;63(4):335-45. doi:10.1007/s12646-018-0470-x.
Yates M. Out of the shadows: mental health in Asia Pacific. London: Reuters Events; 2018 Feb 12 [cited 2021 Jan 27]. Available from: https://www.reutersevents.com/pharma/column/out-shadows-mental-health-asia-pacific
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of Mental Health of Thailand
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
- Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted. The consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, for advertising, or for resale.
- Unless otherwise states, the views and opinion expressed in Journal of Mental Health of Thailand are those of authors of the papers, and do not represent those of the editorial board or the Department of Mental Health.
