The members of the Wild Boars football team, whose rescue from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai gripped global audiences, still need long-term emotional support to help reduce distress as a result of getting excessive exposure in the media, a seminar was told.
Mental Health Department deputy director-general Samai Sirithongthaworn said doctors have monitored the team's mental health and advised them to stick together, support each other and engage in activities as a team.
The mental health watch will continue for one year before it is gradually scaled down, Dr Samai said, adding that lessons will be drawn from their resilience and team spirit shown during the cave ordeal for the benefit of others.
He also expressed concern the teenage footballers have now gained enormous exposure in the media with torrents of information being thrown at them, which only serves to remind them of the trauma they went through. That could harm their mental health.
The seminar was jointly held by the Thai Journalists Association, the Medical Council of Thailand, the Public Health Ministry, the Mental Health Department and the Disease Control Department yesterday.
In Chiang Rai, the eleven young boys of the Wild Boars football team completed their time as novice monks and returned to their regular lives yesterday. A religious ceremony was held yesterday to mark the end of their novicehood at Wat Phra That Doi Wao in Mae Sai district. Phra Ekapol Wisarntho, formerly coach Ekapol "Ake" Chanthawong, is remaining at the temple as a monk for an extended period.
The 11 young footballers and their 25-year-old coach were ordained on July 25 to give thanks and show gratitude to all those who helped throughout their cave ordeal. One team member, 14-year-old Adul Sam-on, is a Christian and was not ordained.
The ordination of boys and their coach was dedicated to Lt Cdr Saman Gunan, the former Thai Navy Seal who died while diving during a mission to resupply the cave with air tanks. Twelve boys, aged 11-16, and their coach entered the cave complex on June 23 after a football practice and were trapped by floods from monsoon rains.
A daring international rescue effort involving hundreds of volunteers succeeded in extracting them over a three-day period from July 8-10.
