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Universities have a role to play in supporting the mental and physical health of their students and faculty, says Burachai Asawathaweeboon, an assistant professor of psychology and assistant to the rector for student affairs at Thammasat University in Thailand.

Globally, more than a third of undergraduate students arrive at university exhibiting symptoms of a lifetime mental disorder, according to . “One of the goals of our university is to ensure good health and well-being among staff and students,” says Asawathaweeboon, who is also a licensed clinical psychologist.

Thammasat University is Thailand’s second-oldest university with more than 42,000 students and 9,300 staff members. Mental health is a particular focus of the institution. A 2024 survey by the university found that 72 per cent of students and staff lacked knowledge about stress management, and more than half were suffering burnout in their work and studies.

In 2024, the university, in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, launched the Future Wellness University project, which aims to promote university environments that foster physical, mental, intellectual and social health.

The project builds on Thammasat University’s existing initiatives to reach and support its staff and students. The university has an app called TU Greats, which now has a Future Wellness University extension to assess the health and well-being of students and staff.

The app has a screening test, which assesses students’ mental well-being. Using AI, it can detect the warning signs of mental health problems. “You can talk on video and the programme will assess your voice, your face, your sentences, and see if you have a risk for mental health issues,” Asawathaweeboon says.

In 2019, the university established the Thammasat Well-Being Center, which provides health services to the university community. “In the last year, we conducted 3,000 counselling sessions” which are offered in Thai and English, Asawathaweeboon says. Dual language offerings ensure that international students can access help if they need it.

Importantly, the campus counselling service works in collaboration with staff and faculty. “Faculty are often the first point of connection with a student who may have mental health difficulties,” says Asawathaweeboon. The centre provides workshops and guidance for faculty to identify and respond when they see the signs of mental health risk among their students.

However, students are also active in shaping the university’s mental health offering, Asawathaweeboon says. “I work directly with the student union and council, who provide feedback to me.” For example, students wanted to be able to access counselling services via an online platform. In response, the university expanded its online offering and has invested THB 3 million (?68,500) in the last two years.

“We want to give our staff and students the best mental health services,” says Asawathaweeboon. Previously, it would take three to six months to access counselling, he says. Now, students will receive counselling within two weeks. The university also offers an overnight hotline, available from 10pm to 6am, to help students access support. “We want everyone to have good mental health,” he says.