Dr Ken | Dr Napat Sirinimnualkul
Specialist physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine

The psychiatrist and the care of mental health… the sleep problem of 1 in 3 Thai people

Dr Napat Sirinimnualkul, or Dr Ken, a psychiatrist specialising in sleep, has revealed the true scope of psychiatry, the statistics of the mental health problems of Thai people, and the importance of caring for mental well-being alongside the body.

Dr Ken revealed the startling statistic that Thai people have the symptom of not sleeping in about 1 in 3, and that this rate increases as one grows older. The problem of sleep usually comes paired with problems of mood, such as depression and anxiety. Sleep is something extremely important to our bodies, whether it be the things we are already familiar with, such as sleep helping to restore tiredness and energy, or the management of waste in the brain, as well as the management of the matters of mood and memory.

Besides this, sleep problems can be divided broadly as follows

  • Not sleeping (Insomnia): usually arises from psychological factors (stress, worry) or from unsuitable behaviour on the bed that is not connected with sleeping
  • Not sleeping enough (Sleep Deprivation): such as having a state of snoring with stopping breathing while asleep, or a work schedule that does not correspond with the body clock

Dr Ken advises that if you feel that something in yourself has changed, such as your mood, your feelings, or your way of thinking not being like the person you were, and you cannot manage it yourself, you should try talking with the people around you, or come to consult an expert, and should not keep it to yourself alone. Or, although technology such as AI can give advice about the problems of life to a certain level, with the limitations and the complexity of being human, care by a psychiatrist is still the best choice for treatment and for psychotherapy that goes deep. And psychotherapy also helps the patient gain a point of view different from before, and be able to manage the various problems in life better.

Seeing patients who have an abnormality of mood, or who have psychiatric symptoms, being able to go back to living their lives normally, those people being able to care for their families, being able to go back to work and be happy with what they love, or with the activities they like — that is the outcome that creates happiness for the psychiatrist.

Dr Ken leaves a reminder that besides physical health, the important thing that must always be examined is mental health. May everyone realise that if you find that your mood is not steady, that there is stress, worry, or sadness disturbing your mental condition, do not hesitate to turn to caring for the mind as well.