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The on-going political turmoil is taking a heavy toll on people's happiness. A happiness index survey by Assumption University's Academic Network for Community

Happiness Observation and Research found that of a possible 10 points, gross happiness has dropped to just 1.98 points.

Bangkok residents scored just 5.01, while residents in other areas were relatively happier.

Meanwhile, the Mental Health Department's initial reports show that the political and economical problems have encouraged a lot of people to call its hotlines, the department's spokesman, Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, says.

"The department is listing the number of callers nationwide who have consulted it regarding their problems," Taweesin says.

Long time to heal

Department head Dr Chatree Banchuen says there are three groups of people affected by the clashes between police and the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators last Tuesday.

They are: the people participating in the clashes, their relatives, and others following the political news.

Chatree says crisis caused by human beings hurt people's feelings, and unlike crisis caused by natural events, the wounds also take a longer time to heal.

He says normally 80-90 per cent of people who have faced violence will respond to the violence, and their stress will be cured within one month.

However, he is also worried that some of the affected people, who can't manage the stress, are probably at risk of suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

The affected people probably feel aimless, frightened, angry, unsafe, isolated and bored with food.

The clashes are also suspected of causing a DJ of a radio station in Chon Buri to go insane.

Montri Jitwimonprasert, 40, who is known as Kai Nano, was yesterday found lying naked on a road in Sattahip district, shouting 'I'm about to die'.

His boss Suratsawadee Prasarnnin said he became strange after he joined the clashes. He sometimes said something strange things and hated red clothes.