Chula schools Teenage moms, handles changing sexual well-being

Policy and Operation

Chulalongkorn University via Chula Student Wellness, under the supervision of the Office of Student Affairs, in partnership with Chulalongkorn University Health Service Center and Center for Psychological Wellness Faculty of Psychology Chulalongkorn University, has designed a new service promoting well-being and dealing with sexual health issues of “Teenage Moms”, while also offering individual help via counseling services provided by psychiatrists and counseling psychologists.

Ms. Thareewan Thiammekh head of Chula Student Wellness states that “Besides offering counseling services, we have also organized wellness activities, which is a psychological course that has been developed to empower and improve student’s wellness as well as strengthen their self-care skills with this being a monthly activity ie. Positive Psychology helps the student feel the experience that is true happiness, positive emotions, and positive relationships. Furthermore, realizing the meaning of life and self-gentle activities, to learn the basics of the relationship between breath and one’s body, and to restore the awakening abilities of the body and mind. Moreover, we have also cooperated with other agencies both inside and outside of the university including organizing workshops on sexual well-being, together with the United Nations, offering counseling regarding issues surrounding sexual well-being, and organizing workshops campaigning for safe-sex communication with the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University. If you take into consideration the number of students who have requested service, you will find that the students are increasingly more comfortable approaching us because these activities that we’re doing prevent, intervene, and reduce the negative image (destigmatize), which we try to communicate to them that coming to see a psychiatrist is a way of self-development and not at all an unusual matter.”

Currently, the teenage mom predicament of unwanted pregnancies in groups of Thai teenagers is still concerning, with the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, revealing that in the year 2562BE alone, it was found that in pregnant teenagers, aged 15-19 years old, there was an average of 169 children being born per day. Additionally, there were 63,831 first time pregnancies in girls aged under 20 years old, with this issue affecting their education alongside their physical and mental health. This also comes with the risk of “Postpartum Depression” which directly affects their mental health due to hormonal changes and the sudden transition into motherhood, as well as the challenge of looking after an infant and the family issues that follow which causes a decrease in the capability to care for their child. Consequently, this will directly affect the child’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. From the operation of counseling by Chula Student Wellness, they have been able to assist students that fall into the category of teenage mom and are currently facing sexual well-being issues, to be able to effectively adapt to society until they can finish their studies as planned.

Interested students can receive counseling with Chula Student Wellness, Office of Student Affairs, without incurring any cost, at room 331, floor 3, Chamchuri 9 building, Chulalongkorn University, which is open for service Monday – Friday between 08.00 am and 5.00 pm. Except for public holidays. Call 02-218-0540, 08-5042-262, or follow news and activity updates via the Facebook page Chula Student Wellness