Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt chaired the inaugural meeting of the Bangkok Mental Health Subcommittee, stressing the need for collaboration and concrete action plans to tackle mental health issues in the city.
He highlighted the growing severity of mental health problems, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) facing challenges such as children’s mental health, autism, ADHD, stress, and drug addiction. He also warned that these issues could impact the elderly population.
The subcommittee brings together key stakeholders, including media representatives, healthcare professionals, the public, and government agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS). This multi-sectoral approach aims to enhance service delivery and policy implementation.
Chadchart urged the BMA to develop measurable action plans to ensure real progress. “Our past efforts may not have always succeeded, but with a dedicated team, we now have a more integrated approach,” he said.
He emphasized that tackling narcotics, for example, is not just the responsibility of the Health and Medical Service Departments but also involves the Education Department, City Law Enforcement, and other agencies. He called for integrated planning, including school-based education, student counseling, and healthcare services.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the Bangkok Mental Health Subcommittee, and other key organizations, took place at the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry in Khlong San district.
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