During the height of the pandemic, Thailand saw a growing number of reports of university students committing suicide, while others suffer from stress and mental health problems due to sudden changes in their lives as the country went into lockdown. Although mental health issues were on campus before Covid-19 arrived, the pandemic made the problems more visible. Now, students are calling for universities to adopt proactive mental health support measures, but with the shortage of mental health professionals, implementing a long-term solution may not be easy.

<div> <div>Citing the need for education reform, the junta has invoked Section 44 to allow outsiders to serve as executives in Thai universities.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 8 August 2017, the Royal Gazette published <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/08/72715">NCPO Head Order No. 37/2560</a> called “The Solution for Problems in University Administration”.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The order claims that problems in the selection process for university executive positions have led to inconsistency, inefficiency and obstruction of national education reform. </div></div>

<div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The military on Friday summoned student activists from Khon Kaen University, in northeastern Khon Kaen Province, to have them sign an agreement to stop anti-coup activities.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In the North East, the junta has kept a close watch on universities, such as Maha Sarakham and Ubon Ratchathani. </div></div>