#Telehealth

A practical blend of comfort and clinical care from the University of Utah offers transferable lessons for Thai universities facing rising student distress. The approach combines informal supports, like campus service animals, with after-hours access to professional counselors, demonstrating a humane, scalable path for improving student wellbeing.

As new students arrive, universities across the United States show how easy access to supportive services can ease homesickness and stress. At Utah, students can spend time with Volley, the campus service dog, or drop in during animal-assisted sessions at busy campus hubs. In addition, the MH1 program provides after-hours access to trained counselors, signaling to students that help is available even when regular offices are closed. This layered model reduces barriers to care and normalises help-seeking among young adults.

As new students arrived for the fall term, the University of Utah rolled out a suite of mental-health supports designed to ease stress, loneliness and homesickness — from scheduled visits with a campus service dog to an after‑hours Mental Health First Responders (MH1) programme that connects students to counsellors when regular offices are closed. The initiative is notable not for a single dramatic cure but for layering low‑barrier, familiar interventions with professional care, a model that carries practical lessons for Thai universities grappling with rising student distress and demand for accessible mental health services.

A global shift in mental health care is reshaping how families access support, and Thai households are watching closely. As thousands of professionals pivot to therapy careers, Thai communities seek sustainable, culturally resonant ways to meet growing demand.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, interest in therapy careers has surged. Career counselors in major economies report many professionals leaving traditional roles to pursue training in mental health, driven by rising demand and a shift in attitudes toward meaningful work. Government labor data point to robust growth in counseling and family therapy roles, with projections showing steady expansion into the next decade. In particular, positions for marriage and family therapists are expected to rise well above average growth, signaling a shift in the healthcare landscape that could influence Thai access to mental health services.

The world is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in mental health care as thousands of professionals pivot to therapy careers. This global shift carries profound implications for Thai families seeking quality mental health support in an evolving healthcare landscape.

The Post-Pandemic Career Migration

Following the global pandemic, mental health careers have experienced extraordinary growth. Career counselors across major economies report a dramatic increase in professionals abandoning traditional paths to pursue therapy training. This trend reflects both rising demand for mental health services and changing attitudes toward meaningful work.

A surge of new therapists is reshaping how people seek help for mental health. This trend affects job markets, care access, and everyday conversations in Thailand and abroad.

More people choose therapy careers after the pandemic. The shift reflects higher demand for mental-health services and new work paths. ((WSJ: When Did All of These People Become Therapists?))

U.S. official forecasts show rapid growth in mental-health jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong growth for counselors and family therapists. ((BLS: Strong growth projected in mental health-related employment))