Management of the Risk Factors of Depression through the Learning Process on the Causes: a Case Study of Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat

Abstract

Mental health affects quality of life and may cause a suicide attempt. This situation was clearly onserved in Tha Sala District of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province where a survey among 25,000 people revealed 29.3 percent of them lived with frustration, depression and feeling hopeless, and 23.5 percent were facing un-enjoyable living conditions. The objectives of this study were to assess the causes of depression and to manage the associated risk factors with the approach that was in line with the needs of those at risk of depression. It was conducted as a combined quantitative and qualitative study in order to ensure both validity and conformity with the community context. The study population for quantitative component of the study were 7,560 people aged 15 years and over at risk of depression selected through a random cluster process; and recruited 68 volunteers among them for the qualitative component. The causal analysis, the A-I-C (appreciation – influence – control) process and implementationt model development were conducted; and data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage. In was found that the major risk factors were economic problems (72.0%), social disintegration (42.5%), health problems (35.4%) and narcotic drug problems in the community (27.3%). The study also found that at 14 days after project completion, 58.8% of people identified as no risk of depression; and the percentage increased to 62.8 at 90 days. The results indicated that depression could be reduced through the process of sharing and learning on the risk factors among the affected population, and jointly indentifying and implementing the solutions that were conformable with their life styles.