Phuket mental health officials report treatment gains but identify care gaps

Phuket officials have reported progress in mental health and drug addiction services, while identifying continuing gaps in care for high-risk patients and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The update was presented at the second meeting of the Phuket Provincial Mental Health Subcommittee for the 2026 fiscal year, held at the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office on 9 August 2026. The meeting was chaired by Dr Banphot Panakleub, deputy provincial public health officer and acting chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office.

Figures presented at the meeting showed that Phuket’s suicide rate was 1.62 per 100,000 population. Officials reported that 86.21% of people who attempted suicide and survived received effective treatment, while 85.35% of patients with depression accessed services and received ongoing care.

Among people entering drug treatment programmes, 95.74% received continuous follow-up after beginning treatment, officials said. The meeting report did not provide underlying totals for the mental health groups covered by the percentages.

Officials said further improvements were needed in managing psychiatric and drug-dependent patients classified as SMI-V, or Serious Mental Illness with High Risk to Violence. They also highlighted the need to improve access to services for children with ADHD.

The committee reviewed initiatives including wider access to cognitive behavioural therapy, psychiatric home ward services, telepsychiatry, community monitoring through the V-Care system, Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team emergency response exercises, and depression and suicide screening for people aged 15 to 24.

Representatives from hospitals, Mental Health Centre 11, justice agencies and other partner organisations attended the meeting. The committee said it would continue strengthening community-based mental health services, patient follow-up and support networks across Phuket.