This is about a friend. He is a doctor from the west on holiday in Thailand. He met a Thai female through a popular social networking site.

They were flirting a bit online and then decided to meet when he came to visit Thailand.Upon meeting he noticed that she was acting erratically/abnormally. She was showing classic symptoms of schizophrenia. My friend essentially wants to know what are the mental health options in Thailand? Are they affordable to common people? Where can he refer this woman to get her some help? He knows that with proper treatment/drugs her condition can be greatly improved.

He should talk to her about it first and then her family about it. maybe get an interpreter. go with her to a government hospital in her area (assuming she has no insurance - not even 30 Baht healthcare) and introduce himself to the doctors as a doctor himself. And let the doctors care for her. Better yet, get her some insurance before taking her into the hospital.

mental health is a supremely delicate issue here, as you may well know. no way of knowing if the family will reject the accusation that there is something WRONG with her mind. On the other hand they may have known it for a long time and wondered what to do about it. many wind up on the streets. or being cared for by others but not really treated for the disease. most of the time this kind of thing responds to meds.

Get your doctor friend a one-way ticket back to the West !!!

arent they all acting erraticaly??

luckyphil247>> What do you mean? Because he didn't marry her and take her home like you did? What are you getting at?

If she's not going for the Oscar then i think PJacks advice is very sound.. Culture and superstition can really hinder a genuine mental diagnoses, especially in this part of the world.

@ condotown; Once a Schizo always a Schizo !!!

You wouldn't buy a car if the salesman tells you "Oh it's a good car but sometimes it breaks down on you. You'll have to repair her yourself but there's no guarantee that she'll be right"

My advice in this specific scenario is also that sometimes its better to make a step back and exit through the backdoor especially when you are not familiar with the culture.

If you keep on digging deeper and going all the way you may uncover stuff that you are not prepared for or comfortable with.

So then if we find signs of irrational behaviour in a woman we should stay away?

Somdet Chaopraya Hospital, Dan. They have psychology department.

and here is the map "http://th.pagenation.com/bkk/Somdet%20Chao%20Phraya%20Hospital_100.5045_13.731.map"

Schizophrenia? So, he gets few person in one package...not bad at all:)

My friend thanks PJack and pandorea for sound advice.

He will act accordingly, I'm sure.

few I wish your friend the best of luck -- I dated a girl like that before -- I would say that was a slippery sloap to put it politely -- this stuff deals with the mind and sometimes is deep rooted so a cure is very questionable -- medication was very effective for her tho -- I would give my personal experience and advice but wouldn't want you to block me from your journal - so I will keep my comments to myself. I wish your friend the best tho I will add that was a very challenging time in my life...

did I say Dan? Sorry, I mean Don.