Asian Angle | Thailand’s youth mental health crisis is fuelled by neglect and legalised weed

The reasons for these tragedies range from heartbreak to mental health struggles, but together these deaths serve as a warning – evidence of a generation beset by anxiety, loneliness and despair. As traditional support systems falter, many young Thais are seeking solace in substances – alcohol, drugs and, increasingly, cannabis – reflecting a systemic crisis in which social isolation, substance misuse and misguided policy choices feed into one another.

National data confirms the depth of the crisis. Recent research from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Mahidol University reveals that those aged 18 to 24 have the nation’s highest levels of depression and anxiety, comprising 13.7 per cent of all reported cases compared to 10.5 per cent among those aged 25 to 40.

Another alarming study from the Kid for Kids Foundation found that more than half of Thai youth – over 52 per cent of those aged 15 to 25 – use addictive substances, including alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cannabis and kratom. Even more worryingly, 39 per cent of those under 20 and therefore below the legal age for drinking, smoking or cannabis consumption admitted to using at least one of these substances.

These findings reveal a generation under mounting emotional and social strain, leading many to self-medicate with substances. The Kid for Kids survey further found that young people using addictive substances were more prone to mental health issues, most often stemming from family instability. Stress from household debt and separation of family members emerged as primary contributors.

For context, Thailand’s household debt stood at 86.8 per cent of gross domestic product by mid-2025, tightening the squeeze on individuals’ resources and undermining family stability. Compared to previous generations, today’s youth are more likely to grow up in single-parent homes or separated from their nuclear families.