Mental health has become one of the most pressing issues facing Thai society. While 2.9 million individuals in Thailand are currently receiving mental health treatment, an estimated 10 million people are suffering in silence, placing the country’s mental health burden above the global average.
The causes are often rooted in everyday life. Factors like rising living costs, unemployment, political instability, lack of housing, crime, substance abuse, academic pressure, and strained relationships all contribute. The triggers differ by age—children face stress from studies and family dynamics, working adults are burdened by financial obligations and caregiving, while the elderly struggle with health, isolation, and financial insecurity. As economic and social pressures mount, so do comparisons, competition, and emotional strain.
SX2024: Bringing Mental Wellness to the Forefront
As the mental health crisis deepens, Sustainability Expo 2024 (SX2024)—Thailand’s largest sustainability event—offered a meaningful response through its fifth annual showcase, co-organized by five leading Thai corporations: Frasers Property, PTT, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group. Held from September 27 to October 6, 2024 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), SX2024 presented a powerful experience titled:
“Art Therapy for Wellbeing” – A Journey of Healing Through Creative Expression
CU Mobile Arts 4U: Addressing Crisis with Creativity
At the heart of the program is Professor Dr. Bussakorn Binson, Chair of the MA in Liberal Arts and Director of the Center for Creative Arts for Well-being at Chulalongkorn University. She emphasizes how unresolved stress, negative experiences, and emotional trauma—especially among university students, working professionals, and the elderly—are driving a rise in mental health issues and suicide attempts.
“The number of people struggling with mental health problems is rising steadily. Modern society exposes us to chronic stress, and suicide ideation is more prevalent than ever,”
said Prof. Dr. Bussakorn.
In response, Chulalongkorn launched CU Mobile Arts 4U, a campus-wide outreach that uses self-portrait drawing to help participants reflect, relieve stress, and assess their emotional well-being. Initial surveys revealed that approximately 80% of participants, including students and staff, displayed signs of stress, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Drawing Emotion: A Mirror to the Soul
Prof. Dr. Bussakorn explains that drawing enables the release of deep-seated emotions—a non-verbal way to express and understand internal states. These art activities not only provide catharsis, but also act as a screening tool to identify individuals at risk of violence, trauma, or crisis. Such insights can then be referred to appropriate institutions, schools, or support systems for intervention.
“People often assume that Chulalongkorn students are privileged and emotionally resilient. But many suffer silently. They come from broken families, live in isolation, or compare themselves negatively to peers due to socioeconomic gaps,” she explained.
Their art reflects these inner conflicts. With the rise of social media, people are increasingly disconnected from their own emotions. The project’s goal is to restore that lost connection using art.
A Holistic Approach to Mental Healing
Art therapy at Chulalongkorn takes many forms—drawing, sculpture, theater, music, and play-based activities. The program tailors activities to individual needs, applying the framework of Creative Arts Therapy, a modality that integrates artistic expression with emotional processing.
Creative Arts Therapy involves three key components:
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The participant
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The creative act
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The therapist
The aim is not artistic excellence, but emotional resolution. Whether through movement, imagery, or sound, participants externalize what words often fail to capture.
Over the years, the Mobile Arts Therapy (MAT) team has deployed Creative Arts Therapy to aid communities traumatized by national crises—such as the Korat mass shooting, the 2011–2012 floods, the Nong Bua Lamphu school tragedy, and cases of sexual abuse among children.
Expanding Impact Through Education and Therapy
In response to growing demand, Chulalongkorn now offers an international MA program in Art Therapy under the Faculty of Liberal Arts. The university continues to organize art therapy workshops for individuals suffering from depression, chronic stress, suicidal ideation, and workplace burnout (e.g., office syndrome).
“Art heals without side effects. It doesn’t rely on chemicals but on the power of self-discovery,” Prof. Dr. Bussakorn affirmed.
“It teaches people to love themselves, to trust, to reconnect emotionally, and to find inner warmth.”
She emphasized that all schools and workplaces should incorporate creative spaces—places to draw, make music, and create freely. These activities foster emotional intelligence, mental resilience, and self-compassion.
Aligning with Global Goals: Art as a Tool for Sustainable Well-being
The Center for Creative Arts for Well-being at Chulalongkorn is committed to delivering art therapy across a wide spectrum—from primary schools to senior citizens, across government agencies, and within the broader community.
Through visual storytelling and imagination, participants channel their emotions into tangible forms. These practices improve mindfulness, emotional balance, and focus—helping prevent mental crises before they escalate.
Art therapy is now widely regarded as a valid form of psychotherapy that integrates the body and mind. Research supports its benefits across both emotional and physical dimensions—relieving depression, anxiety, and stress, while also enhancing pain management, coordination, and social engagement.
“Art is more than lines on paper. It’s the hand and heart speaking in place of the brain. It communicates without words and encourages people to observe the colors and value of life around them.”
— Prof. Dr. Bussakorn
Importantly, this aligns directly with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)—promoting not just survival, but meaningful, holistic living.
Follow updates and activities from SX on the Sustainability Expo Facebook Page and via LINE official account: @sxofficial
Mark your calendar for SX2025, returning even grander from September 26 to October 5, 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
