AMAR International Asia is known throughout Thailand as the best company to contact if you need any advice on repatriation or funeral arrangements. However, their services are not limited to the work they do with families and their arrangements for deceased loved ones. Often AMAR is brought in to help, locate and sometimes rescue missing loved ones when there is concern for their health and well-being. Both Jeff and Dao Mitchell have also worked within embassies in Bangkok where they have had experience with such cases.

I recently spoke to Jeff about the worrying trend in the increase of suicides. For although he doesn’t profess to be a counsellor or mental health advisor he has been contacted and recounts a time at the British Embassy when he was contacted directly with the terrifying words “By the time you read this…”. So along with Dao and the team at AMAR International, he wants to bring awareness to this problem before it is too late for the most vulnerable in our society. They are often tourists or expats from overseas who have gone missing, are in crisis or even more tragically have actually committed suicide.

Here in Thailand, the suicide mortality rate has increased dramatically by 32% from 2017 to the year 2022 and although the pandemic has been a major contributory factor, there continues to be a worrying increase. The problem is not unique to Thailand but a dangerously worrying global trend Suicide rates in the U.S. saw an increase of 2.6% in 2022 from the year before with the rate amongst males particularly high. Generally nen account for around 80% of suicide deaths with more women attempting suicide but not actually dying as a result. WHO (The World Health Organization) has stated that nearly 800,000 people die from suicide each year. It is a leading cause of death worldwide among young adults, adolescents, LGBTQ, veterans, and those suffering from chronic mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

It is ironic to see an increase in suicide rates when there is more awareness than ever of mental health issues. Celebrities have spoken candidly about their problems in an attempt to bring more attention to the subject. Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have all admitted to battling depression and thoughts of suicide. British comedienne Miranda Hart also openly discussed her problems with anxiety and depression, emphasising the importance of seeking help. However, despite all the attempts to raise awareness, as a society, do we still continue to stigmatise people suffering from psychological issues rather than more obvious physical problems?

The recent sad death of Liam Payne was met by some on social media with inappropriate jokes and derision. People focused on the fact that he was reported to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol without considering the underlying causes. Despite having been a member of the mega-successful One Direction group and seemingly having the world at his feet, Payne had spoken publicly about his mental health issues: “There’s times where that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day almost nearly killed me a couple of times… every so often, you’re like, when will this end?”

If rich, affluent celebrities can suffer from loneliness, anxiety and depression – what hope for the rest of us? There are many reasons why people develop mental health conditions. Common factors that can influence mental health include social isolation or loneliness, severe or long-term stress, substance abuse or misuse. Here in Thailand, there are hotlines you can contact and please remember there’s nothing wrong with asking for help, if you’re feeling depressed, lonely or suicidal, you can dial the English-language hotline for

Samaritans of Thailand at 02 113 6789 (Press 2). The free service gives you access to staff who are knowledgeable in suicide prevention, though you don’t have to be suicidal to benefit from the hotline.

The HOPE Taskforce’s Mental Health Hotline 1323 established in 2019, has, since its inception, provided successful interventions in over 600 cases.