STRESS IN MODERN ADOLESCENTS: A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS CARE AND TREATMENT

Abstract

Adolescence is an important transitional period in life, involving physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. This is a time filled with challenges and pressures. In today's era, adolescents face increasingly complex factors, making stress among adolescents a matter of concern and requiring a deeper understanding. According to UNICEF (2022), the stress situation in Thai adolescents, approximately 1 in 7 Thai adolescents aged 10-19 years have mental health problems, and 1 in 14 people aged 5-9 years also have problems. Moreover, suicide is the third leading cause of death among Thai adolescents. This is a clear warning sign of the severity of the problem. The 2021 Global School-based Student Health Survey found that 17.6% of teenagers aged 13-17 had seriously considered suicide (UNICEF, 2022). Data from the Department of Mental Health (2025) also found that during 2020-2024, Thai teenagers under the age of 20 had high stress rates, were at risk of depression, and were at significantly higher risk of suicide than other age groups.