Opinions of Public Health Personnel Toward Suicide among Thai People

Abstract

Suicide is recognized as a public health and social problem of Thailand. The objectives of this study
were to explore the opinions of public health personnel toward suicide among Thai people at present and to
examine the relationships between some personal factors of public health personnel and their ever thought
about committed suicide for themselves. Samples consisted of 633 public health personnel working in the
North – Eastern and Central parts of Thailand. The samples were studying in bachelor degree program of
public health in Mahasarakham University and Kasetsart University, Bangkok Metropolis. Data were
collected through questionnaires and analyzed by frequency, percentage and Chi-square.
Results of the study revealed that majority of the samples were female 64.5 percent, age between
20 – 29 years 32.7 percent, and married 57.5 percent. They had been working for more than 10 years 52.9
percent, working at health centers / primary care units 52.9 percent, working in Bangkok Metropolis 13.4
percent and Srisaket Province 7.1 percent. With regards to the opinions about the most important causes of
suicide among Thai people at present, it was found that the first three were lacking of love from spouse,
being neglected or disappointing in love 28.4 percent, thinking that they were valueless persons 13.6
percent and thinking that their parents did not love them or having poor relationship with their families 13.0
percent. In addition, there were no significant relationships between personal factors of public health
personnel and their ever thought about committed suicide for themselves.