Psychiatry in Chiang Mai

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. A medical doctor who specializes in this branch of medicine is called a psychiatrist and they can assess both the physical and mental aspects of all psychological issues. Psychiatrists are trained and qualified to:

• Make a diagnosis and develop a management plan
• Provide urgent care for a sudden mental illness
• Provide advice about lifestyle changes
• Provide advice and second opinions to other doctors and medical professionals
• Help manage a long-term mental health problem
• Work with patients individually, or with the patient and patient’s family, partner, or carers
• Refer patients to other medical professionals
• Admit patients to hospital if required
• Prescribe medications, such as antidepressants, stimulants, and mood stabilizers
• Perform procedures.

There are numerous procedures psychiatrists can use to diagnose and treat patients, these include, but are not limited to:

• Psychometric testing, including personality tests, intelligence tests, and neuropsychological tests
• Physical and laboratory testing, including full physical exams, neurological evaluations, laboratory tests (such as blood and urine tests), and neuroimaging techniques
• Psychotherapy
• Psychosocial interventions
• Electroconvulsive therapy.

Some common reasons why someone might see a psychiatrist include:

• Problem adjusting after major life changes
• Depression that does not go away
• Anxiety, fear, or worry
• Suicidal thinking
• Hurting themselves on purpose
• Thoughts of hurting other people
• Obsessional thinking
• Constant negative thoughts
• Feeling like people want to harm them or are after them
• Feeling jumpy or on edge
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Addictive behaviors
• Memory problems
• Violence or emotional outburst
• Conditions that start in childhood, such as intellectual disability, autism, and childhood anxiety.

Examples of the mental health conditions that psychiatrists can diagnose and treat include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia.

How Long Should I Stay in Chiang Mai?

Psychiatric treatments are typically performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you should be able to leave the clinic or hospital immediately after the procedure, and leave Chiang Mai the day after. If hospitalization is required, the average hospital stay is around 1 to 2 weeks. Since psychiatric treatment usually requires more than one appointment, you can choose to stay in Chiang Mai for the whole treatment plan or to make multiple trips.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery from a mental health problem depends on your specific condition and the type of treatment you underwent. However, there is usually no recovery time needed after the psychiatric treatment itself. You can go back to your normal routine immediately. It is normal to feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained after a treatment session, so you can take a day off of work after your treatment if you need to.

What Aftercare is Required?

If your psychiatrist prescribes medications, make sure to take it as directed. Your psychiatrist may also advise you on making lifestyle changes. You may need to attend regular checkups with your psychiatrist, ranging from once a week to twice a year, depending on your specific condition and its severity. 

What's the Success Rate?

Psychiatry continues to develop and advance. A better understanding of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, as well as new technology, have helped psychiatrists to become better at diagnosing, preventing, treating, and managing mental health conditions. The quality of life of people with a mental health condition who go to psychiatrists and stick to their treatment plans have been proven to improve. While there is typically no serious risks to psychiatry treatment, it does have some side effects, such as feeling overwhelmed or emotional after treatment. 

Are there Alternatives?

In some cases, you should be able to see other mental health professionals, such as clinical psychologists and mental health counselors. 

Psychiatry in and around Chiang Mai

About Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the fourth largest city in Thailand and is situated in the Northern part of the country. Chiang Mai is a land of misty mountains, hillside tribal villages and lush green landscape. Chiang Mai is not only an amazing holiday location but is also one of the most reliable and affordable destinations for medical tourism. Surprisingly, medical costs are cheaper here than in Bangkok and the facilities are up to date and for 3000 baht (approximately $100), you can have a complete health check-up.

Each year, thousands of medical tourists from all over the globe flock to Chiang Mai. The city's superior hospitals that are top-rated globally, boast dedicated International departments specifically put in place to meet the varying needs of these medical visitors. Impeccable hospitality services are a hallmark of these facilities, coupled with hospital personnel and medical professionals who are proficient in English.

These hospitals are equipped to provide wide-ranging treatments such as cardiac surgery, amongst others, and cosmetic procedures including but not limited to breast augmentations, liposuction, and cool sculpting. There are also quite attractive medical packages available that conveniently bundle treatment and accommodation.

The Chiang Mai Ram International, bearing a notable reputation for their remarkable services, stands out as the most frequented hospital in the city. Moreover, Chiang Mai is rich with numerous restorative amenities including spas, resorts as well as massage and healing centers. These outlets have cemented the city’s status as a perfect haven for post-treatment rejuvenation.

Popular areas in Chiang Mai

The metropolitan area of Chiang Mai is home to over 1 million residents. Listed below are the popular areas of this amazing city. Each area has its own charm and offers something to the visitors.

• Old City: Is the cultural and religious epicenter of Chiang Mai. The old town has moats and fortress walls from ancient times. Pae gate, which lies in the Old Town, is the most famous traditional landmark of the city.
• Nimmanhemin road: You can experience a bustling and vibrant nightlife here. Located close to the famous Chiang Mai University, this place is quite popular with the young and dynamic student population and you can find several affordable hostels and guesthouses on the Nimmanhemin road, varied housing options are available for long-term expats.
• Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: Considered as the ‘downtown’ of Chiang Mai, it is a paradise for shopping sprees. You will find a lot of street food shops which offer authentic Thai delicacies at affordable prices. Handicrafts, antiques, textiles and other traditional Thai products also come with affordable price tags. After 6 pm, this area comes alive and you can expect to see the streets very busy with enthusiastic tourists and locals.
• Riverside: The Riverside Chiang Mai has all of the old world charms that the city is renowned for with affordable eateries and live-music venues combined with the fresh river breeze and the relaxed atmosphere all helps to make it the best place to chill out during evening time.
• Santitham: The Santitham area of the city is mainly populated by Thai locals and this spot is less touristy and a bit more laid back. You can find supermarkets, public parks, and many residential buildings within this neighborhood.

Weather and climate in Chiang Mai

Located at an elevation of 316 meters, Chiang Mai enjoys a cooler and pleasant climate. As it experiences a typical tropical climate, winter, and spring seasons are not applicable. Instead, Hot, Cool and Rainy seasons are distinct in Chiang Mai.

• Cool: Early December to February. Day time temperature rises up to 30°C, yet, you may require sweatshirts to keep yourself warm as dusk approaches. It is the best weather to pay a visit to Chiang Mai. January is the coolest month of the season with temperatures dropping to as low as 10°C.
• Hot: Mid-February to mid-June. March is the hottest month in Chiang Mai with the temperatures rising to 40°C. You can escape the blistering heat waves and embrace the chilly breeze by visiting the nearby mountains.
• Rainy: Early June to late October. The average temperature drops down to 32°C during the rainy season. It rains almost every single day without fail. Even though the rainfall is heavy and the storms are intense, they won’t last for long. August is the wettest month of the year.

Getting around in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai International Airport proclaims its status as the fourth busiest air hub in the country. It skillfully and efficiently manages a substantial volume of domestic and international flights. These flights provide vital connections between Chiang Mai and an array of prominent cities across the globe such as Bangkok, Beijing, Doha, and Ho Chi Minh, to mention a few.

While Chiang Mai, the bustling metropolis, boasts a sizeable expanse and a cosmopolitan vibe, its public transportation system falls somewhat short of organized. However, this minor shortcoming does not pose a barrier to exploration of this magnificent city. A plethora of other transportation mediums step in to bridge this gap, facilitating comfortable and convenient travel around the city. These constitute both traditional and modern modes of transport that cater to different tastes and preferences, all aimed at ensuring visitors and locals alike can fully experience and appreciate the city's remarkable offerings.

• Songthaew: The Songthaew or red truck is the most common and the desirable mode of transportation. For 30 Bahts, you can travel anywhere within the city, as long as you have no issues sharing your ride with other passengers. You can book private songthaew using the mobile app, GRAB.
• Tuk-tuks: Are the second most common mode of transportation next to songthaew. However, they are pricey as the rates start at 60 Bahts. It could be inexpensive too if you have exceptional bargaining skills.
• Taxis: Are quite expensive, costing somewhere between 100 and 200 Bahts per ride in the city.

Tourist visas in Chiang Mai

Thailand is a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world. Citizens of many countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Germany, and Singapore, do not need a visa to enter Thailand and can stay for up to 30 days without a visa.

Citizens of India and China who intend to stay in Thailand for up to 15 days can apply for a visa on arrival. However, if they want to stay for longer than 15 days, they will need to apply for a different type of visa, such as a transit visa or a non-immigrant visa.

Here is a summary of the visa requirements for Indian and Chinese passport holders:

• Visa on arrival: Indian and Chinese passport holders can apply for a visa on arrival if they intend to stay in Thailand for up to 15 days. The visa fee is 2,000 Thai baht.
• Transit visa: Indian and Chinese passport holders who are only passing through Thailand on their way to another country will need to apply for a transit visa. The transit visa allows them to stay in Thailand for up to 48 hours.
• Non-immigrant visa: Indian and Chinese passport holders who want to stay in Thailand for longer than 15 days will need to apply for a non-immigrant visa. There are different types of non-immigrant visas available, depending on the purpose of the visit.

To apply for a visa on arrival or a non-immigrant visa, Indian and Chinese passport holders will need to have a valid passport, a return flight ticket, and proof of funds. They may also need to provide additional documents, such as a hotel reservation or a letter of invitation from a Thai resident.

Additional Information

1. Thai Baht is the currency of Thailand. 1 USD is around 34.5559 THB as of 2023. 
2. ATMs and exchange bureau are present at most of the tourist locations, making the withdrawal of local currency easy. You can pay by credit card in big restaurants, shopping malls, and hospitals.
3. Thai is the official language of Thailand and is widely spoken in Chiang Mai. However, most of the locals in Chiang Mai do understand and speak good English. The street signs are also translated into English making it is easier for the tourists to get around.
4. 90% of the total population of Thailand practice Buddhism, followed by Islam. Thai nationals exhibit deep love and admiration for their royal family.
5. Notable public holidays:

• January 1 – New Year's Eve
• February 19 – Makha Bucha day
• April 12-16 – Songkran Festival
• May 5 – Coronation day
• December 10 – Constitution day