Thai Health Foundation Launches 'Listen to Each Other' Campaign Against Loneliness
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation and partners launched the 'Listen to Each Other' campaign to combat rising loneliness, with research showing 31.3% of Thais feel isolated and many now prefer AI over human connection. Over 300 organizations nationwide will create safe listening spaces throughout November to foster empathy and mental well-being across families, workplaces, and communities.
In an era where people connect easily through technology, many still feel lonely and isolated. Research shows 31.3% of Thais experience these feelings, with some turning to AI because they believe it understands them better than friends and family. This highlights the importance of building meaningful relationships and creating non-judgmental listening spaces.
Therefore, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) partnered with the Volunteer Spirit Network, the Mental Health Network, and Siam Paragon to launch the 'Listen to Each Other' campaign during National Listening Month 2026. A press conference on October 27, 2026 revealed loneliness research and mobilized over 300 organizations nationwide to create safe spaces and promote heartfelt listening skills throughout November, aiming to connect relationships and build a more understanding society.
Yanee Ratborirak, Director of the Media and Mental Health Promotion Office at ThaiHealth, stated that a hurried society has left people lacking connections at family, workplace, and community levels, leading to loneliness and isolation. 'Listening' is a crucial skill that helps connect people and promote mental well-being. ThaiHealth, together with the Volunteer Spirit Network and partners, has driven National Listening Month for three consecutive years. In 2025, 174 organizations created listening spaces nationwide, and over 3 million people accessed knowledge through online media, helping them manage feelings of loneliness and isolation.
'Good listening has three levels: listening to oneself, listening to others, and listening to the world, society, and nature. One must be fully present with the speaker, aware of one's own thoughts and feelings, and understand the other's feelings without judgment. Such heartfelt listening helps individuals understand themselves, creates safe spaces in organizations and communities, and promotes acceptance of differences and respect for human dignity. Meanwhile, a two-year loneliness survey reflects that relying on AI to replace conversations with loved ones does not alleviate loneliness; human connection and mutual listening are vital to reducing isolation.'
Yanee added that in 2026, ThaiHealth aims to expand listening spaces to all regions by leveraging existing organizations, local areas, and communities systematically, creating safe spaces that connect people from individual to societal levels. This gives everyone the opportunity to understand themselves, listen to others, and accept differences more, leading to supportive relationships and sustainable mental well-being for Thais.
Dr. Sarayut Rattanaphanrat, Deputy Director of the Volunteer Spirit Network, said the network collaborated with Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Psychology to study loneliness and AI use in Thai relationships. In 2026, 31.3% of Thais felt AI understood them better than family, up from 20% in 2025, and 28.1% felt AI understood them better than friends, up from 17%. Meanwhile, 47.9% reported that floods affected their mental health, causing stress, loneliness, sadness, and isolation.
This situation reflects the importance of building relationships and understanding between people. Listening is a crucial starting point for solving social problems and promoting well-being in families, schools, workplaces, and communities, because a lack of understanding and tolerance for one another
