Process of Prevention on Mental Health Risk in Children: Comparative Study between Developed Country and Thailand

Abstract

The problem of mental health in Children lead to undesirable behaviors, such as depression, stress, suicide, and aggression. The government mandates solutions from community to healthcare levels where research-Based Knowledge were systematically used by multidisciplinary Teamwork for screening, referral, and treatment. This academic article aims to understand the prevention process for children at risk of mental illness through a comparative perspective between Thailand’s Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Prevention Center in the United States. A review of documents revealed that Thailand employs community-level screening, particularly in schools and families close to children, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess and provide support. In cases of severe mental illness, children can be referred to higher-level healthcare facilities as needed. Meanwhile, the Missouri Prevention Center uses research-based approaches to design interventions for the children, implementing comprehensive care within a single service facility through collaboration between academics and practitioners. This helps bridge the gap between research and practice effectively.