#Education

A new analysis in medical research has illuminated a crucial aspect of the battle against mental health stigma: there are two very different—and deeply misunderstood—types of stigma affecting people with mental illnesses, each requiring distinct approaches to overcome. The findings, published this week in STAT News, call for nuanced strategies in advocacy and policy to ensure that the global response to mental health challenges is both effective and compassionate.

For Thailand, where mental health issues have traditionally been shrouded in silence and misconceptions, these insights could be game-changing for healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers striving for a more inclusive and supportive society.

As rates of childhood behavioral and emotional concerns rise globally, child psychologists are sounding the alarm for Thai parents and grandparents, urging vigilance about ten specific habits that may signal deeper issues in children and adolescents. New research and expert opinion published this week, including findings featured by Parade and AOL Lifestyle, emphasize that early identification and intervention are critical for a child’s development and long-term well-being.

For Thai readers, this warning comes as childhood mental health takes on new urgency in a rapidly digitizing society, where external pressures and changing family structures can mask or even exacerbate warning signs. In many Thai families, grandparents play a central caregiving role, so understanding these red flags is crucial for all generations sharing responsibility for young ones.

A groundbreaking new study has found that children who demonstrate higher levels of curiosity may be at a lower risk of developing depression in adulthood, opening new avenues for both prevention and early intervention strategies in mental health. This research, which has gained attention in both academic and mental health communities worldwide, adds weight to the growing understanding that childhood psychological characteristics can have long-term impacts on mental wellbeing.

The significance of this finding lies particularly in its potential influence on how parents, educators, and policymakers approach early childhood development. In Thailand, where student mental health has become a major topic amid rising depression rates and pandemic-related disruptions, understanding the role curiosity plays could inform both classroom strategies and broader public health efforts. As depression is a leading cause of disability and lost productivity globally, including in Thailand, early predictors and preventatives are constantly in demand. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 264 million people globally, disrupting lives and placing a strain on health systems and families alike World Health Organization.

A recent study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that people who cheat once are more likely to cheat again. This challenges the idea that cheating is just a one-time lapse. The finding has implications for everyday life and raises questions about trust in Thai personal and professional relationships.

Researchers tracked nearly 2,000 participants over three years using controlled games designed to measure dishonest behavior. In one exercise, participants wrote a number from one to eight. After being shown a random number, they answered whether their number matched the display. A small cash reward was offered for a match, and participants were told their answers would not be double-checked, creating an environment where lying had no immediate consequences. The study indicates that cheating persisted across different scenarios, suggesting a stable trait rather than situational opportunism.

New international research suggests that children who are more curious may face a reduced risk of developing depression later in life. The findings invite fresh approaches for early intervention and prevention in mental health, with practical implications for parents, teachers, and policymakers.

The significance, particularly for Thailand, lies in how curiosity can shape classroom practices and public health strategies at a time when student mental health is receiving growing attention amid pandemic-related disruptions. Depression remains a major global health challenge, affecting hundreds of millions and placing a heavy burden on families and health systems. Data from global health authorities show the persistent demand for early predictors and preventative strategies.

A newly published study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology is making waves by suggesting that individuals who cheat once are significantly more likely to repeat their dishonest behaviour—contradicting the longstanding belief that cheating is merely a one-time error in judgment rather than a trait embedded in a person’s character. This finding has important implications for understanding dishonesty in everyday life and raises new questions for Thai readers about how trust and integrity function in both personal and professional relationships.

A new wave of research is sounding the alarm for parents, educators, and policymakers as a groundbreaking study published in June details how excessive screen time, coupled with low physical activity, is strongly associated with heightened stress and depressive symptoms among adolescents. This study, highlighted in PsyPost, brings fresh evidence to the ongoing debate over youth digital habits and their mental health in an era where smartphones and social media are nearly ubiquitous, especially in Thailand’s school-age population.

A growing body of research is shattering myths about cult recruitment, exposing the dark psychological playbook behind how ordinary people are lured and ultimately ensnared by manipulative groups. Grounded in analysis inspired by the new TV series “Sirens,” which satirically depicts a lavish cult community, recent findings underscore that the path into cults is less about gullibility and more about sophisticated psychological manipulation, an insight with urgent relevance in Thailand and around the world (The Conversation).

Rising childhood behavioral and emotional concerns are prompting Thai child psychologists to urge vigilance among parents and grandparents. Early identification and intervention for ten specific habits can significantly affect a child’s development and long-term well-being, according to recent expert commentary and prominent health outlets. This guidance arrives as Thailand navigates rapid digital change and evolving family roles, underscoring the need for proactive support across generations.

In Thai households, grandparents often share caregiving duties. The ten red flags require attention from all family members who interact with children. They include delays in developmental milestones, private internet use, excessive screen time, changes in eating patterns, aggressive behavior, frequent lying, use of inappropriate language, sleep difficulties, chronic nail biting, and suicidal thoughts. While some of these may appear as typical kid behavior, persistence or sudden onset warrants professional evaluation.

A new online wellness craze—drinking unpasteurized raw milk—has spread far beyond its origins, reaching Thai social media and everyday conversations. Medical professionals warn that the supposed benefits are unproven and that raw milk can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening infections, especially for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Public health experts emphasize that pasteurization is a proven safeguard against dangerous pathogens, and there is no medical justification to forgo it.

The trend gained momentum in Western circles early last year as influencers framed raw milk as a natural, “back-to-nature” choice. International coverage and celebrity endorsements have helped fuel interest in several countries, including Thailand, where online communities discuss the practice. Thai health authorities urge caution, noting that the perceived “natural” appeal should not override safety considerations.

A growing body of research is debunking myths about how people fall for cults. Instead of gullibility, experts point to sophisticated psychological manipulation that can ensnare ordinary individuals. This insight resonates with concerns in Thailand about coercive groups, and it highlights the universal need for awareness and education to protect communities.

For many Thai readers, cults may seem foreign or sensational. Yet cult-like groups—whether religious, spiritual, or secular—have appeared in Asia for decades. Understanding how these groups operate helps not only distant victims but also strengthens Thai society against coercive tactics that threaten families and communities.

A fresh analysis in medical research identifies two separate, deeply rooted forms of mental health stigma that require different strategies to overcome. Published recently, the study urges nuanced advocacy and policy actions to improve mental health support worldwide. For Thailand, where conversations about mental health have historically been limited, these findings offer practical pathways for clinicians, teachers, and policymakers to build a more inclusive system.

Globally, stigma prevents people from seeking care, leading to untreated conditions and social isolation. In Thailand, mental illness is often treated as a family issue—“เรื่องในบ้าน”—worth keeping quiet rather than seeking help. The research argues that anti-stigma efforts must separately address beliefs about psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, and common conditions like depression and anxiety.

The Internet’s latest viral wellness obsession—drinking unpasteurized “raw” milk—has fueled a surge in demand worldwide, including on Thai social media platforms, but medical professionals are raising urgent concerns over its serious health risks. With raw milk advocates touting purported nutritional and immunity benefits, global health authorities and food safety experts warn that these claims are not only unproven but mask very real dangers—pathogenic infections, foodborne illness outbreaks, and even life-threatening complications, especially for children and the elderly (BuzzFeed; Wikipedia - Raw milk).

The harsh truth in parenting is rarely about the child who is bullied; it can be the child who bullies. A recent Times feature, The last parenting taboo: admitting your child is the bully, uses personal stories, research, and insights from anti-bullying specialists to urge families and schools to confront this uncomfortable reality with honesty and practical steps.

In Thailand, the challenge carries a distinct cultural weight. Thai families often value harmony and protecting family dignity, which can make acknowledging harmful behavior feel like a personal failure. Yet open, constructive conversations about bullying remain essential for safeguarding children and communities.

The uncomfortable reality that sometimes a parent must face is not that their child is being bullied, but that their child is the bully. A recent article in The Times, “The last parenting taboo: admitting your child is the bully,” illuminates this often unspoken aspect of parenting, drawing on personal accounts, research studies, and insights from leading anti-bullying experts to challenge families and educators to confront the issue with honesty and practical strategies (The Times).

A new personality type is making waves in the world of child psychology: the ‘otrovert’. Recently introduced by psychiatrist Dr. Rami Kaminski in his latest book, “The Gift of Not Belonging,” the otrovert describes children who thrive in one-on-one interactions but feel alienated or uncomfortable in larger groups—a concept distinct from the more familiar categories of introversion and extroversion. As parents and educators in Thailand continue to seek a better understanding of children’s social needs, this new research sheds light on how some children may chart their own unique path through social development.

Christianity is undergoing a significant shift, with Asia taking a central role in shaping the religion’s future. New research and regional insights from scholars and faith leaders show not only a growing Christian population in Asia, but also stronger indigenous leadership and fresh theological expressions from cities like Seoul, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City. This regional vitality is fueling a broader global conversation about mission, social engagement, and faith under pressure.

Christianity, long considered the spiritual anchor of the West, is now undergoing a historic transformation with Asia increasingly taking center stage, according to the latest research and regional insights from scholars and faith leaders. Recent publications and conferences highlight that not only is the Christian population in Asia growing at a robust pace, but the region’s believers are also becoming influential agents in reshaping global Christianity, sending new missionaries westward and offering unique responses to social change and political pressure. The findings mark a pivotal moment for a religion that, for centuries, was driven by Western missionary expansion, but is now witnessing energetic growth, indigenous leadership, and new theological expressions from Seoul, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and beyond.

Handwriting issues among doctors have spurred legislation and raised questions for patients, pharmacists, and policymakers worldwide. Recent interdisciplinary research shows that poor penmanship is not simply carelessness. For Thai readers who rely on handwritten notes for prescriptions or hospital charts, understanding the science behind legibility is crucial for safety and clear communication.

Writing matters in everyday Thai life, from classrooms where students learn to write to patient charts in regional clinics. The common critique of doctors’ “chicken scratch” notes has real consequences, including potential medication errors and miscommunications. Some jurisdictions, including several Brazilian states, now require typed prescriptions or utterly clear handwriting, a policy echoed by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health as part of ongoing efforts to improve patient safety.

A wave of recent scientific research is challenging the common perception that meditation and mindfulness are universally beneficial, ignoring their potential to cause significant harm for some practitioners. While meditation, rooted in centuries-old Buddhist traditions and widely promoted in modern Thailand as a stress-relieving and wellness-enhancing practice, reports now highlight overlooked adverse effects—including anxiety, depression, dissociation, and even psychotic episodes. As mindfulness gains popularity across Thai schools, corporate offices, and healthcare settings, these revelations carry urgent implications for local practitioners, educators, and policymakers.

Doctors’ notoriously difficult-to-read handwriting has triggered a wave of legislative action worldwide and raised enduring questions for patients, pharmacists, and even policymakers. But why do so many healthcare professionals—and people in general—struggle to write clearly? Recent interdisciplinary research offers nuanced answers drawn from anthropology, neuroscience, and psychology, revealing that poor penmanship is far more than a simple lack of care or discipline. For Thais who depend on handwritten medical notes for prescriptions or hospital charts, understanding the roots of this phenomenon is crucial for both safety and effective communication.

New international research suggests that kids who stay active before adolescence have a markedly lower risk of anxiety and depression later. For Thai readers, the findings reinforce urgent calls to boost physical exercise and organized sport among children and teens.

A large, prospective study published in June 2025 tracked activity levels and mental health from ages 5 to 11. Researchers found that boys who were physically active at ages 5 and 11 experienced nearly a 40% reduction in anxiety risk. Depression risk also declined for active boys, by 19% at age 5 and 23% at age 8. By age 11, active girls showed protective benefits too, with a 12% lower likelihood of future mental health diagnoses; for boys, the reduction reached 23%. The results align with growing evidence that early movement helps build psychological resilience.

A recent wave of research and educator testimony is highlighting a troubling trend: Gen Z parents are reading less to their children, a shift that experts fear may have long-term consequences for childhood literacy and development. According to a survey commissioned by HarperCollins UK and reported by The Guardian, fewer than half of Gen Z parents described reading to their children as “fun for me,” while nearly a third see reading as “more of a subject to learn” rather than an enjoyable activity—a marked difference from previous generations (The Guardian).

A new child psychology concept, the “otrovert,” is drawing attention as researchers describe kids who thrive in one-on-one settings but feel uncomfortable in larger groups. Dr. Rami Kaminski introduced the term in his latest book, The Gift of Not Belonging, to highlight a personality style distinct from traditional labels like introversion and extroversion. For Thai families, this offers fresh insight into children’s social needs and how best to support their growth in school and community life.