ภูมิปัญญาพื้นบ้านในการดูแลสุขภาพจิตของผู้สูงอายุในสังคมวัฒนธรรมอีสาน Local Wisdom in the Mental Health Care among Older People Living in Isan Cultural Society
The aim of this study is to explore the experience of using local wisdom in the mental health care of older people in northeastern Thailand by means of phenomenological study approach. The primary data contributors were 25 older people in rural communities, Nakhon Phanom province and 20 traditional healers. All were selected by judgmental sampling. Data collection was done by in-depth interview, focus group discussion in conjunction with participatory observation, and field recording. Analysis of data was conducted according to the Colaizzi’s method.
Findings of the study revealed that older people in Isan cultural society still use three main types of local wisdom in mental health care as follows. 1) ‘Phuk Siew’ ritual which helps with creating social immunity. It is a use of Isan people’s friendliness tradition to promote and prevent mental health problems. Older people, then, have a social support source and consultant, and are able to adapt to change in the old age and have happiness in living a life. 2) ‘Yao’ ritual which is a therapeutic ceremony performed for the cure of souls. It helps relieve stress, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, feel safe, have a stable heart, have hope, and have energy. 3) ‘Bai Sri Su Khwan’ ritual which is a ceremony of returning to the mental health. This local ceremony is used to restore mental health, help with morale, create healthy self-esteem, create hope, get peace of mind, and have confidence in living a life. The results of this study reflect the importance of applying local wisdom in mental health care in line with the socio-cultural context of the northeastern Thailand’s older people at the present time.