AIS Upgrades “Aunjai Cyber” Program for Safer Internet Day Joins Department of Mental Health in MOU on Cyber Wellness For Safer, More Constructive Internet Use in Thailand

9 February, 2021: AIS is seeking to care for Thai people spending more time online amid the COVID-19 pandemic following a Department of Mental Health survey in January 2021 that found 6.52% of Thai citizens are contending with high levels of stress, 7.85% are at risk of depression, 4.07% are at risk of suicide and 6.93% are at risk of mental burnout. In response, AIS is upgrading its “Aunjai Cyber” program to promote Cyber Wellness and proper online behavior. Marking Safer Internet Day, AIS joined hands with the Department of Mental Health in a Memorandum of Understanding to create a platform for learning digital skills and online behavior aimed at immunizing the Thai people from online threats and promoting constructive and sustainable usage slated to be unveiled in Quarter 2 of 2021.

Ms. Saichon Submakudom, Head of Public Relations for Advanced Info Service Plc. (AIS), explained that “the COVID-19 situation has intensified the role of online media along with its benefits and risks and has led to impacts on mental health, making cyber wellness an important issue that must be given attention. On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, when the public and private sectors are encouraged to see the need for safe and constructive internet usage, AIS, as a Digital Life Service Provider, has made it our mission to promote Cyber Wellness and safeguard Thailand’s Digital Citizens. Towards this, we have upgraded our ‘Aunjai Cyber’ program in cooperation with partners specialized in digital skills and developed technologies to provide a safe network for the Thai people. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Mental Health to create a digital platform providing a novel approach to learning that will immunize Thai people of all generations from cyber threats and enhance their digital intelligence so they may use the internet discerningly. The platform is to be unveiled in the second quarter of 2021”.

Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, Director-General of the Department of Mental Health, stated that “the Department of Mental Health has always devoted importance to protecting the mental state of Thais and sees it as particularly important now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the mental health of people in Thailand and around the world. At present, online and digital channels have become prevailing ways to communicate in Thailand, making cyber wellness an essential matter. Safe and constructive use of the internet can promote physical and mental health and provides a source of learning while immunity to cyber threats and good digital citizenship reduces mental health issues in the long term. This cooperation is an important starting point to developing cyber wellness in Thailand, of which mental wellness is a key component. Our goal is to create Mental Health Citizens both online and offline, so the Department of Mental Health is very happy to be working with AIS to care for the mental health of the Thai people”.

“This collaboration between AIS and the Department of Mental Health is the start of an important mission to fortify the intellect and safeguard the mental health of the Thai people as well as to promote safe usage of the internet amidst these trying circumstances” Ms. Saichon said.

Details on the Aunjai Cyber program can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ais.sustainability