Thailand to introduce student mental health checks after deadly school shooting

Thailand's Ministry of Education announced on Sunday plans to introduce mental health screening protocols for students in the coming months to prevent further school shootings, following an incident in which a student killed or injured 28 people at his school.

The ministry said it will implement safety protocols that include mental health assessments for students and referring those deemed at risk to specialists. Additional measures will include emergency response drills in schools, an anti-bullying campaign, and enhanced security to prevent dangerous items from being brought onto school grounds, according to Channel News Asia.

Police investigations revealed that the 14-year-old perpetrator had spent one to two years online learning how to use firearms and was exposed to significant violent content. After the incident, police confiscated a knife from his bag and his personal computer.

The student shot his grandfather and grandmother at home before killing six people at his school and then taking his own life last Friday. The attack injured 20 others and is considered one of the worst mass shootings in Thailand since 2022.