TTA Group collaborates with CYCT and Because We Care to address “BuddyThai — Being Bullied, Talk to Buddy” under CYC Plus

Monday 5th February 2024 — Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited (TTA Group) held an activity “BuddyThai — Being Bullied, Talk to Buddy” which is an activity under “CYC Plus” at Silacharaphiphat School, Bangkok, with the objective to promote emotional awareness and provide skills to deal with bullying problems in schools.

This activity was organized under the initiative of Mr. Chalermchai Mahagitsiri (Kueng), President and Chief Executive Officer of TTA, who recognizes the importance of instilling awareness and campaigning for children and youth to recognize bullying behaviors, emotional awareness, and the prevention of violence in all dimensions. It also aims to promote knowledge, understanding, and awareness among children and youth of available support channels from various agencies when faced with bullying situations through the use of the "BuddyThai" application.

The aim of this activity is to jointly raise awareness among children and youth to be aware of bullying behavior, emotional intelligence, and violence prevention. This activity also intends to promote the concept of ‘Self-understanding’ in emotional and mental health. Through the BuddyThai application, users can access various support channels when facing bullying or situations impacting their mental well-being.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute (CAMRI), Department of Mental Health is collaborating with Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Company Limited (TTA Group) to develop an application called “BuddyThai” with the goals of helping children and youths who are bullied at school or through social media and hopefully relieving suicide rates among the children and youths in Thai society.

The BuddyThai Application has features and functions specifically designed to serve as an advisor for children and youths with 3 distinctions as follows.

A button is available to directly request counseling with a psychologist. When pressing this button, a child or youth can contact the 1323 Hotline of the Department of Mental Health. Alternatively, the child or youth can choose to chat via Facebook with a psychologist from the Department of Mental Health, a psychologist and a volunteer at LoveCare Station of Path2Health Foundation, or the BuddyThai App on Facebook.
There is a self-assessment in Emotional Quotient (EQ), and knowledge packages with exercises in life skills for children and youths to learn how to cope with life situations when being bullied. Good suggestions from reliable psychologists are also given.
There is a record system for daily emotions. Children and youths can record their own emotions every day, several times a day. They can record their emotions and reasons. The data of emotions are recorded and presented in weekly and monthly statistics. Children and youths can check the tendency of their previous emotions and the reasons for them. Emotional management techniques are also available for self-study. If any child or youth continuously records his or her stress or depression for a week with any indications to commit suicide, the admin team will monitor them closely. The team may notify schools, teachers, or hotline psychologists about the issue for active contact.

Therefore, this activity aligns with the objectives of the "CYC Plus", which aims to emphasize the importance of preventing violence and fostering positive awareness in self-defense and assisting others. The project achieves this goal through training and public awareness campaigns designed to empower children and youth about social, environmental, and cultural issues that may negatively impact their physical and mental health.