Reaching out to the Suicidal in Thailand (A Column From Befrienders International)

This article describes the Samaritans program in Thailand, in particular their Outreach Program. Thailand has experienced many rapid changes, e.g. from an agriculture-based country to industry & from an extended-family pattern to nuclear families. The Outreach Program complements the telephone service & targets three high groups at high risk for suicide: the elderly, those receiving hemodialysis & secondary school children. Examples are provided of the work done with each of these groups.