Management of the Risk Factors of Depression through the Learning Process on the Causes: a Case Study of Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat - การจัดการปัจจัยเสี่ยงภาวะซึมเศร้าด้วย กระบวนการเรียนรู้สาเหตุ กรณีศึกษา อำเภอท่าศาลา จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช

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.
Key words: risk factors for depression management, learning process, Tha Sala district