Thammasat Partners with ThaiHealth to Pioneer “Future Model of a Well-being University”
Thammasat University, in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), has launched the “Future Wellness University” project along with the TU Great – Future Wellness App, serving as a crucial tool for assessing the health and well-being of students and staff. This application provides tailored health care recommendations that meet individual needs at the auditorium of the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University, Rangsit Center.
Professor Dr. Supasawad Chardchawan, the Acting Rector of Thammasat University, revealed that Thammasat University has a total of over 9,300 staff members who dedicate their physical and mental efforts to the development of the university. Each year, Thammasat takes care of more than 42,000 students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Overall, each year, Thammasat supports approximately 51,300 individuals, many of whom reside on campus 24 hours a day. This highlights the necessity of making the university a space that can enhance and support the well-being of the community, akin to a second home. Good well-being encompasses not only strong physical health but also the mental health of community members, which is another key to advancing society towards sustainability.
“The Future Wellness University is therefore an important agenda aimed at enabling the university to play a part in addressing the health issues of the youth and the working-age population of the country. We aspire to focus on prevention, screening, and referral into the treatment system, not only to meet the needs of caring for our students and staff but also in the hope that the Future Wellness University will be another initiative that contributes positively to the overall health system of the country,” said Professor Dr. Supasawad.
Mr. Phongsak Thongratana, Director of ThaiHealth, stated that depression and stress are significant issues currently faced by Thai students. According to a survey conducted by Thammasat University in 2024, 72% of students and staff lack knowledge in stress management, while 56% are experiencing burnout in their studies and work. These figures align with the overall mental health trends among students and working-age individuals across the country.
“ThaiHealth has also collaborated in advancing the Healthy University initiative under the ASEAN University Network – Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN) by utilizing the Healthy University Framework. This framework represents a partnership among universities in the ASEAN region aimed at promoting sustainable health and well-being within university campuses. ThaiHealth has adopted this approach as a framework for designing the Future Healthy University project, which aims to create universities that are safe spaces promoting health across all dimensions: physical, mental, intellectual, and social. The goal is to expand this initiative to encompass four centers by 2025, reaching a target population of 51,300 staff and students, with the hope of becoming a model for universities in Thailand and the ASEAN region in creating spaces that foster well-being in all aspects: physical, mental, intellectual, and social,” stated Mr. Phongsak.
In addition, the event features health promotion activities from 7 special booths, including #NoSmokeLif, body health check-ups including muscle-fat analysis and blood pressure measurement, sports science consultations regarding exercise, mental health check-ins and mental health assessment systems, I WITHIN for safety in turmoil focusing on mental understanding, Self-Love for a pain-free day providing advice on BMI and self-care, and Happy Workplace for modern organizations that prioritize well-being.
