Nang Lerng Police Station’s deputy inspector Pol Lieutenant Weerayut Srisupat yesterday said the investigation showed the 55-year-old woman was suffering from psychiatric problems.
“She became mentally ill after her business collapsed,” Weerayut said. “Her relative says she has often hurled verbal abuse at others and complained loudly.”
A relative of the woman lost track of her on Monday because she had to bring her paralysed mother to the hospital.
“That’s when the accused [woman] left the house on her own, got on a bus and ran into trouble because other passengers thought she was making critical comments about the King,” Weerayut said.
HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej died peacefully at the age of 89 last Thursday, plunging Thailand into deep mourning. People are now wearing black and white as they grieve his departure.
Reigning the country for seven decades, the late monarch commanded enormous love and respect from his people.
Weerayut said police had found records that the accused woman on the bus was a patient at the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry.
“She has been receiving treatment there for more than 10 years already. She had appointments with doctors every few months,” he said.
Public Health Ministry spokeswoman Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn urged people to notify officials or relatives if they found mentally-ill people making abusive comments.
“The notification will help to ensure they receive proper care,” Panpimol said.
She said people should immediately leave an area if they feel they cannot tolerate offensive comments made by people near them who may have |mental health problems. “Don’t take retaliation of any kind,” she said.
Panpimol advised mourners to avoid activities that depressed them. For example, they should avoid excessively watching TV or browsing social media.
“They should go out and join activities that show they love the King. Such participation will ease their grief,” she said.
The Mental Health Department has received about 40 calls a day from people who cannot get over the passing of the much-revered monarch.
“Some people keep crying. When they see the pictures of the King or think of him, tears fall. These people need special attention. We have given advice and called them to check if they paid attention and if their conditions improved,” Panpimol said.
The Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team has been on duty around Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace since last Thursday, to help people cope with grief.
Millions of Thais have headed to the Grand Palace during the past week to pay respects to their beloved monarch.
Inthira Charoenpura, an actress, posted on Instagram that people afflicted with some diseases could not deal with reality and change.
“Some patients have really lived in their own world …They don’t want that but they have no other choice,” she said, citing her mother as an example.
She urged people to be kind and simply alert relevant authorities if they found people acting improperly.
“After I watch the clip about the face-slapping, my heart shakes. I think of my own mum … I am afraid … Be kind, please,” Inthira said.