Mental Health Department director-general Dr Somchai Chakraphan said: "The visits will be part of our effort to make the public understand psychiatric services."

The visits would not affect patients, he said.

Last month, a young woman claimed that Prakitpao's admission to Srithanya Hospital, one of the country's oldest mental hospitals, was suspicious because she thought he was "perfectly sane".

His mother and elder brother took Prakitpao, the head of a chain of physics tutorial schools, to Srithanya on February 19.

The Criminal Court ruled on Monday that there was nothing unusual about Prakitpao's admission and that he should continue to receive mental treatments. Currently, Prakitpao remains in Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute, where he was subsequently transferred.

Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said Prakitpao's case indicated that few people understood how to identify a mentally ill person.

"It requires a psychiatrist to identify mental illnesses and to give the proper treatment," the minister said.

Mongkol said the Health Department had drafted laws to protect the public and patients, which aim to ensure people receive treatment to help them recover while posing no threat to others.

Under the draft bill, it would be mandatory to admit someone to a psychiatric hospital if they become dangerous and need treatment or if they are incapable of deciding if they need care.

A source said the Public Health Ministry planned to put the draft law to the Cabinet next Tuesday.

Mongkol said long-established laws on the treatment of the mentally ill existed in the United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Sweden, France, Japan and Malaysia.

A 2003 survey found that about 20 per cent of Thais had mental problems, with stress-related tensions being the most common. The report said without proper counselling, stress could lead to mental disorders.