Bangkok: The government is moving forward with expanding the mental health care network nationwide to reduce inequality. The government is increasing the number of mental health treatment centers to 227, aiming to reduce inequality and improve access to services closer to home.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, prioritizes upgrading the country's mental health service system to ensure that citizens have access to comprehensive and timely care and to reduce healthcare disparities. Most recently, the Ministry of Public Health issued a ministerial announcement regarding the list of mental health treatment facilities, B.E. 2569 (2026), which was published in the Royal Gazette on May 28, 2026, and came into effect the day after its publication.
This announcement updates the list of mental health treatment facilities to reflect current circumstances and accommodate the increasing demand for mental health services among children, youth, working adults, and the elderly. It expands the network of officially accredited mental health facilities from approximately 190 to 227, an increase of 37 facilities, covering all regions of the country.
The new list of mental health treatment facilities includes hospitals and institutions under the Department of Mental Health, hospitals under the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, hospitals under the Department of Medical Services, university hospitals, hospitals under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and hospitals under the Ministry of Defence, to provide the public with greater access to mental health care services closer to home.
Key service units included in the announcement include Srithanya Hospital, Suanprung Hospital, Phra Sri Mahapho Hospital, Rajanagarindra Institute of Mental Health for Children and Adolescents, Songkhla Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital, as well as central and general hospitals in various provinces nationwide, and university hospitals such as Ramathibodi Hospital, Srinakarin Hospital, and Songklanagarind Hospital.
'The government is committed to promoting mental health care as an integral part of the public health system, ensuring accessibility for all, regardless of location. This expansion of mental health treatment facilities will reduce travel burdens, shorten waiting times, and increase opportunities for people to receive prompt and continuous care,' the Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister added. The government will continue to integrate physical and mental health care, supporting personnel development, referral systems, and access to preventative services to comprehensively improve the quality of life for citizens in the long term.