Family stress can lead to unexpected behavior
The news of a mother strangling her 1-year-old child with a wire to spite the stepfather is a heartbreaking incident and reflects that family and mental health crises are still overlooked in Thai society. The mother may be experiencing severe stress, exhaustion, loneliness, and lack of space to vent or seek timely help, leading to the worst possible outcome.
This kind of problem can happen to anyone — if no one is by their side
Being a mother, especially during the first year of a child’s life, is a physically and mentally challenging time. If a woman has to raise a child alone or is in a family with emotional violence, the risk of mental health issues increases and may manifest as uncontrollable behavior in a crisis emotional state.
The lesson society should learn is… mothers should not be left to face stress alone
What should happen at the policy and community level is:
- Access to mental health services that are understanding and non-stigmatizing
- Support for new parents that covers both child care and emotional aspects
- A proactive and timely responsive family violence monitoring system
- Providing space for mothers to vent, consult, or seek help without being judged
Such incidents should not be repeated, and it is not solely the mother’s fault
If we create a society that understands, supports, and listens more, we will reduce the chances of a woman having to choose an undesirable solution.
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