School shooting: Hard truths about youth violence in Thailand

The recent mass shooting in Nonthaburi has ignited a national debate over gun control, but experts warn that the deeper roots of youth violence must be tackled to prevent future tragedies.

On August 7, a 14-year-old student shot his paternal grandparents dead before calmly heading to Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where he killed another six people before turning the gun on himself. The rampage claimed nine lives and injured 27 others – some suffering gunshot wounds and others hurt in the stampede to escape.

As of press time, 13 victims remain hospitalised, two in critical condition.

Initial investigations suggest the attack may have been driven by several factors, including learning difficulties, strained peer relationships, and exposure to violent online content. However, experts have urged caution in assigning blame.

“Fingers cannot be pointed at a single source. We must realise that changes are required at a much deeper level to prevent such violence from recurring,” said Public Health Ministry spokesperson Dr Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, who is a qualified psychiatrist.

Warning signs unheeded

Dr Varoth said youths who commit incidents of such grave violence usually show signs of disturbance beforehand. However, in many cases, those warning signs go unnoticed or unaddressed by people close to the youngster.

“Teachers might miss early warning signs because their classes are large. Or perhaps the child is left alone because they are quiet and reserved. This is why all stakeholders – families, schools, friends and communities – have a duty to show care and awareness so that subtle red flags are detected,” he said.

One of the primary sources of student distress in school is bullying. Data from the Department of Health Service Support indicates that 65.94% of Thais aged between seven and 25 have experienced bullying.

The department’s survey records the five most common forms of bullying. These are mocking the student’s or their parents’ names (40.97%); ridiculing their physical appearance or personality (37.95%); cornering or trapping the student (30.38%); striking or shoving the victim (28.28%); and social exclusion through being ignored, humiliated or made to feel inferior (26.27%).

Nearly three-quarters (73.53%) of victims reported being bullied by their peers, with the majority of incidents (83.35%) occurring on school grounds.

The psychological toll is severe, with more than half of respondents reporting feelings of embarrassment, anger, or vengefulness towards their tormentors. Others reported feeling exhausted and helpless, while more than one in four admitted that bullying drove them to consider self-harm.

“School shootings are almost always related to school-based issues, such as bullying or poor relationships with classmates,” said Dr Yongyud Wongpiromsarn, adviser to the Mental Health Department.

Dr Yongyud said that tackling such problems endemic within schools would have a greater impact in reducing violence than tightening gun-control laws. He urged authorities to introduce screening and support systems to identify and help vulnerable students early.

National policy measures

Mental health professionals have been assigned to support families and students affected by the shooting. Debsirin Nonthaburi school is scheduled to reopen for on-site classes on September 1 with special emotional healing programmes, but the classroom where the shooting occurred will remain indefinitely closed.

The Cabinet on Tuesday (August 11) approved an Education Ministry proposal to make school safety a national priority. Meanwhile, students, parents and teachers are being encouraged to report instances of school violence, bullying or child rights violations through the 1300 hotline or the Traffy Fondue for Education app.

“Harsh disciplinary action will be taken against offenders, while structured support systems are being prepared for victims,” said Paramee Waichongcharoen, adviser to the education minister.

Additionally, schools nationwide have been directed to conduct mental health screenings for all students over the next 90 days. Teachers will also undergo training to identify emotionally distressed youngsters and provide basic psychological help.

Schools are also mandated to conduct emergency response drills, tighten checks at the entrances and foster strong teacher-student ties.

Restoring personal care in classrooms

Dr Yongyud said that Thai schools used to have robust student care networks where teachers knew students individually and could detect risk factors such as aggression, depression or social withdrawal.

“Once these risks are identified, teachers can provide direct guidance or connect the student with professional help,” he said.

Yongyud added that restoring daily homeroom periods, which have fallen out of favour in many modern curricula, could also offer a vital space for open discussions and life-skills development with children.

However, systemic challenges remain. Paramee said teachers in large public schools often oversee classes of 40 to 50 students and heavy administrative workloads, leaving little time for individual observation.

Former schoolteacher Tanawat Suwanapan said educators naturally tend to focus on students sitting in the front or back rows, meaning those in the middle of class often slip under the radar.

“Parents and teachers assume that quiet students are doing fine, but that’s not always true. Reserved children often have deep struggles that go unnoticed because they cannot express themselves,” the ex-secondary school teacher said.

He added that peer conflict is common among schoolkids from different backgrounds, but teachers who prioritise student counselling often receive little or no recognition or support. Even when teachers do spot warning signs, he said, many lack the training or referral networks needed to secure proper help for the student.

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk